The Down House (5 MW solar farm)
The Down House is a 5 MW solar farm project in Dorset, England. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: abandoned; the record was last updated on 26 October 2018.
5 MWsolar farm
abandonedstatus in REPD
26 October 2018record last updated
Dorsetcouncil area
Planning timeline
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| 16 September 2015 | Application submitted |
| 19 January 2016 | Refused by the planning authority |
| 7 October 2016 | Appeal lodged |
| 31 March 2017 | Planning permission granted |
| 31 March 2017 | Appeal allowed |
Project details
- Technology
- solar farm
- Capacity
- 5 MW
- Status (REPD)
- abandoned
- Record last updated
- 26 October 2018
- Operator or applicant
- British Solar Renewables
- Planning authority
- Dorset
- Planning application reference
- 2/2015/1129/PAEIA
- Appeal reference
- APP/N1215/W/16/3154739
- Address (REPD)
- Land At E 385926 104812, Down House Estate, Blandford St. Mary, Blandford Forum
- Council area (by location)
- Dorset
- Time to decision
- 80 weeks
- REPD reference
- 5629
Who decides
| Applications | Dorset | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Decided applications (solar, wind, battery) | 125 | 10,236 |
| Refused | 23 (18%) | 19% |
| Solar refused | 15 of 105 | 12% |
| Onshore wind refused | 5 of 5 | 45% |
| Battery storage refused | 3 of 15 | 16% |
| Median time from submission to decision | 19.0 weeks | 17.0 weeks |
| Appeals lodged / allowed | 6 / 6 | — |
Other large projects within 10 km
| Project | Type | MW | Status | km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Littleton | solar farm | 12.1 | operational | 1.7 |
| Canada Farm | solar farm | 8.3 | operational | 2.7 |
| North Farm (Spetisbury) | solar farm | 11.6 | operational | 2.9 |
| South Farm Solar Park | solar farm | 40 | operational | 4.6 |
| Blandford Hill Wind Farm | wind farm | 12 | refused | 4.6 |
| Blandford Hill - EV Charging Station & Solar Farm | solar farm | 15 | approved, not built | 5.0 |
| Mapperton Farm | solar farm | 24 | application withdrawn | 6.2 |
| Part Bushes Farm | wind farm | 24.8 | refused | 6.8 |
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 (50.8408, -2.1906).