Sheraton Hall Solar Farm (49.9 MW)
Sheraton Hall Solar Farm is a 49.9 MW solar farm project in County Durham, England. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: approved on 6 December 2023, not yet built; the record was last updated on 16 September 2025.
49.9 MWsolar farm
approved, not builtstatus in REPD
16 September 2025record last updated
County Durhamcouncil area
Planning timeline
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| 18 December 2020 | Application submitted |
| 10 December 2021 | Refused by the planning authority |
| 27 October 2022 | Appeal lodged |
| 6 December 2023 | Planning permission granted |
| 6 December 2023 | Appeal allowed |
| 6 December 2026 | Permission due to expire (unless work starts) |
Project details
- Technology
- solar farm
- Capacity
- 49.9 MW
- Status (REPD)
- approved, not built
- Record last updated
- 16 September 2025
- Operator or applicant
- Lightsource BP
- Planning authority
- County Durham
- Planning application reference
- DM/20/03722/FPA
- Appeal reference
- 22/00042/REF
- Site area
- 77.4 ha
- Address (REPD)
- Sheraton Hall Farm
- Council area (by location)
- County Durham
- Time to decision
- 155 weeks
- Contracts for Difference
- AR6
- REPD reference
- 8254
Who decides
| Applications | County Durham | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Decided applications (solar, wind, battery) | 89 | 10,236 |
| Refused | 22 (25%) | 19% |
| Solar refused | 7 of 51 | 12% |
| Onshore wind refused | 13 of 30 | 45% |
| Battery storage refused | 2 of 8 | 16% |
| Median time from submission to decision | 24.7 weeks | 17.0 weeks |
| Appeals lodged / allowed | 5 / 5 | — |
UK: all UK planning authorities. Counted under these REPD planning authority names: County Durham, Durham.
Other large projects within 10 km
| Project | Type | MW | Status | km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheraton Wind Farm (Durham) | wind farm | 10 | refused | 1.7 |
| Whelley Hill Farm, Worset Lane | battery storage | 50 | approved, not built | 2.1 |
| Whelley Hill Farm | battery storage | 25 | application withdrawn | 2.1 |
| High Volts Wind Farm | wind farm | 5.5 | operational | 2.4 |
| High Barnes Farm, Coal Lane Solar Farm | solar farm | 49.9 | approved, not built | 2.5 |
| High Barnes Farm, Coal Lane | battery storage | 25 | approved, not built | 2.5 |
| Home Farm | solar farm | 13 | abandoned | 2.7 |
| Worset Lane Solar Farm | solar farm | 50 | approved, not built | 4.1 |
| Benridge Farm, Fillpoke Lane | solar farm | 48 | application submitted | 4.8 |
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 (54.7041, -1.3327).