Rockbeare Hill (15 MW solar farm)
Rockbeare Hill is a 15 MW solar farm project in East Devon, England. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: approved on 30 July 2020, not yet built; the record was last updated on 30 September 2020. REPD records the planning permission as expiring on 30 July 2023, but the project holds a Contracts for Difference award (AR4), so construction may have started. Check the planning authority's register for the latest position.
REPD records the planning permission as expiring on 30 July 2023, but the project holds a Contracts for Difference award (AR4), so construction may have started.
Planning timeline
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| 10 January 2020 | Application submitted |
| 30 July 2020 | Planning permission granted |
| 30 July 2023 | Permission expired |
Project details
- Technology
- solar farm
- Capacity
- 15 MW
- Status (REPD)
- approved, not built
- Record last updated
- 30 September 2020
- Operator or applicant
- Spring Che
- Planning authority
- East Devon
- Planning application reference
- 19/2832/MFUL
- Site area
- 25.9 ha
- Address (REPD)
- Land To The South Of, Rockbeare Hill, Rockbeare, Exeter, Devon
- Council area (by location)
- East Devon
- Time to decision
- 29 weeks
- Contracts for Difference
- AR4
- REPD reference
- 7815
Who decides
| Applications | East Devon | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Decided applications (solar, wind, battery) | 55 | 10,236 |
| Refused | 17 (31%) | 19% |
| Solar refused | 9 of 36 | 12% |
| Battery storage refused | 8 of 19 | 16% |
| Median time from submission to decision | 21.0 weeks | 17.0 weeks |
| Appeals lodged / allowed | 5 / 3 | — |
Other large projects within 10 km
| Project | Type | MW | Status | km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Houndbeare Farm | solar farm | 10 | operational | 0.7 |
| Ford Oaks Solar & Green Infrastructure Facility | solar farm | 30 | under construction | 1.3 |
| Pithayes | solar | 5 | refused | 3.6 |
| Higher Hawkerland Farm, Sidmouth Road Solar Farm | solar farm | 18 | approved, not built | 3.7 |
| Rutton Farm, Whimple - Horton Solar Farm | solar farm | 49.9 | approved, not built | 5.0 |
| Saundercroft Farm | battery storage | 290 | approved, not built | 5.1 |
| Saundercroft Road, Broadclyst | battery storage | 57 | approved, not built | 5.1 |
| Saundercroft Solar Farm | solar farm | 7 | operational | 5.2 |
| Crannaford Solar Farm | solar farm | 12.5 | operational | 5.2 |
Status and dates as recorded in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract); the database is compiled from public sources and can lag behind council decisions. Location: REPD grid reference (50.7351, -3.3419).