BayWa Wins Approval for Three UK Solar Farm Projects

• BayWa r.e. secures planning consent for three solar farms in Dorset and Hampshire, adding 97 MW of capacity with biodiversity plans and community funds.

BayWa r.e. has cleared a major hurdle in its British growth strategy, securing planning consent for three solar farms that will together add almost 97 MW of capacity to the UK grid by the end of the decade.

Dorset Council has green-lit the 30-MW Woodlands Solar Farm and the 19-MW North Farm Mannington project, while Hart District Council has approved the 47.5-MW Fleet Solar Farm in neighbouring Hampshire. All three sites are slated to begin construction in 2027 and target first power in 2028, aligning with BayWa r.e.’s CleanPower 2030 roadmap to double its global renewable portfolio.

Biodiversity at the forefront

Each planning application includes a detailed habitat-management plan designed to leave the land in better ecological shape than it was found. The company pledges to plant native hedgerows, establish wildflower meadows and maintain species-rich grassland, creating corridors for pollinators and birds across more than 180 hectares of former agricultural terrain.

Community benefits baked in

BayWa r.e. will also set up community benefit funds for the local parishes, channelling an as-yet-undisclosed annual sum into projects ranging from school programmes to energy-efficiency upgrades. Stuart Davidson, head of project development at BayWa r.e. UK, said constructive engagement with residents and councillors helped refine each scheme. “We listened, made changes and can now deliver clean electricity and genuine local value,” he noted.

Grid connection next on the agenda

With planning secured, the developer’s focus shifts to the National Grid’s upcoming Connection and Infrastructure Options Note (CION) gate process, which will determine the technical pathway for plugging the trio of projects into southern England’s stressed transmission network. Early studies suggest the farms could collectively power more than 28,000 homes and displace around 45,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually once operational.

Part of a wider push

The approvals arrive as the UK races to quadruple solar generation to 70 GW by 2035. Industry analysts say that while utility-scale projects like these are critical, the pace of new builds hinges on planning capacity and grid upgrades. BayWa r.e.’s triple win demonstrates that well-researched proposals with clear biodiversity gains can move through the system—even as councils juggle competing land-use pressures.

If timelines hold, Woodlands, North Farm Mannington and Fleet will not only supply clean power but also serve as living testbeds for nature-positive solar design, underscoring how renewables development and habitat restoration can go hand in hand.