Valley Farm, Hessett (42 MW solar farm)
Valley Farm, Hessett is a 42 MW solar farm project in Mid Suffolk, England. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: approved on 23 March 2026, not yet built; the record was last updated on 31 March 2026.
42 MWsolar farm
approved, not builtstatus in REPD
31 March 2026record last updated
Mid Suffolkcouncil area
Planning timeline
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| 17 June 2025 | Application submitted |
| 23 March 2026 | Planning permission granted |
| 23 March 2029 | Permission due to expire (unless work starts) |
Project details
- Technology
- solar farm
- Capacity
- 42 MW
- Status (REPD)
- approved, not built
- Record last updated
- 31 March 2026
- Operator or applicant
- Opdenergy UK Limted
- Planning authority
- Mid Suffolk
- Planning application reference
- DC/25/02730
- Site area
- 38.6 ha
- Address (REPD)
- The W/O Drink Stone Green, Hessett, Bury St Edmunds
- Council area (by location)
- Mid Suffolk
- Time to decision
- 40 weeks
- Name in REPD
- Valley Farm, Hessett - Solar Panels
- REPD reference
- 18471
Who decides
| Applications | Mid Suffolk | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Decided applications (solar, wind, battery) | 33 | 10,236 |
| Refused | 5 (15%) | 19% |
| Solar refused | 3 of 19 | 12% |
| Onshore wind refused | 1 of 2 | 45% |
| Battery storage refused | 1 of 12 | 16% |
| Median time from submission to decision | 22.4 weeks | 17.0 weeks |
| Appeals lodged / allowed | 2 / 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 (52.1918, 0.8366).