Cattle grazing on a green Cornish hillside
Planning in Cornwall

Solar planning consultant in Cornwall.

Planning for solar farms, battery storage and commercial solar across Cornwall. Led by our in-house Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI), from our base in Exeter.

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Why us in Cornwall

Planning that knows Cornwall.

  • One local planning authority, clear policy

    Cornwall Council decides solar farms across the county. Its Climate Emergency plan backs renewables that keep land farmed and avoid the best farmland.

  • Sensitivity mapped early

    Cornwall Council’s Renewable Energy Sensitivity Assessment shows how sensitive each area is. We check your site against it before you spend on surveys.

  • Community ownership

    Larger commercial schemes are expected to offer community ownership. We build it into the plan, not on at the end.

  • Grid first

    Cornwall’s network has a history of limits. We check grid and planning together, so a consent comes with a route to connect.

Who decides

Planning authorities in Cornwall.

Cornwall Council decides solar farms across the county. The Isles of Scilly have their own planning authority. Solar farms up to 100MW are decided by the local planning authority. Larger schemes go through the national planning process, after the threshold rose from 50MW on 31 December 2025.

Planning authorities

  • Cornwall Council (unitary)
  • Council of the Isles of Scilly

Protected landscapes

  • Cornwall National Landscape (12 sections, including Bodmin Moor)
  • Tamar Valley National Landscape (shared with Devon)
  • Isles of Scilly National Landscape

Cornwall Council's Renewable Energy Sensitivity Assessment and online map show how sensitive each area is to solar. We check your site against it.

Fixed fees

Know the cost up front.

The same fees across Cornwall and the UK. Surveys at cost plus a management fee.

All our fees →

Desktop feasibility report
From £750
Pre-application package
From £3,000
Full planning application, up to 10MW
Price on request
Full planning application, 10MW to 49.9MW
Price on request
FAQ

Solar planning in Cornwall: questions

Who decides a solar farm planning application in Cornwall?

Cornwall Council, as the unitary authority, decides solar farms across the county. The Isles of Scilly have their own planning authority. Schemes over 100MW go through the national process.

Does Cornwall Council support solar farms?

Yes, when they are well designed. Its Climate Emergency plan supports renewables that keep land in farming use, avoid the best farmland and offer community ownership on commercial schemes.

How long does solar planning take in Cornwall?

Local planning authorities aim to decide major applications, which include most solar farms, within 13 weeks, or 16 weeks if an Environmental Impact Assessment is needed. Surveys and pre-application advice come first. We give you a realistic timeline for your site.

What does a solar planning consultant cost?

Most of our fees are published. A pre-application package starts from £3,000. Full applications are priced for each site, so contact us for a quote. Specialist surveys are charged at cost plus a management fee.

Related

Sources:Cornwall Council: Climate Emergency DPD · Cornwall National Landscape · Isles of Scilly planning · Farmers Weekly: 2015 grid limit · NGED: queue formation. Checked 1 October 2026.

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