A solar farm with battery storage planned for Frodsham Marsh in Cheshire has been granted development consent by the government. The decision, made on 27 October 2026, allows the Frodsham Solar project to move towards construction, although work has not yet begun.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero approved the application by Frodsham Solar Limited after a six-month examination overseen by the Planning Inspectorate. Local residents, councils and other interested parties had the opportunity to submit evidence. The recommendation was sent to ministers on 29 July.
Developer Cubico Sustainable Investments says the project, north of Frodsham and beside the existing wind farm and Protos energy hub, is intended to provide renewable electricity for homes, businesses and nearby industry.
What has been approved?
The development consent covers ground-mounted solar panels, an on-site substation, a battery energy storage system and associated cabling and grid connections at Frodsham Substation. Plans also include a potential private-wire connection to supply neighbouring businesses directly, together with land set aside for wildlife mitigation.
There are several capacity figures in the published material. The Planning Inspectorate’s announcement describes a scheme generating more than 50 megawatts (MW). The government’s formal decision summary refers to generating capacity above 100 MW, while the developer has previously described an indicative capacity of about 150 MW. These are not the same as the separate up to 100 MW the developer says could be exported to the distribution network.
What could it mean for the local area?
Cubico says the project has the potential to generate electricity equivalent to the annual needs of around 40,000 homes. That is a developer estimate of output, not a claim that 40,000 homes have already been connected or will receive electricity exclusively from the site.
Other proposed benefits include:
- More than 100 full-time-equivalent jobs during construction, rather than 100 permanent jobs.
- About 5.1 km of new permissive public access routes, intended to connect existing rights of way.
- Landscaping and habitat improvements, including measures for birds and other wildlife.
- A community benefit fund to support local initiatives, although the published announcement does not specify the fund’s final value.
These are planned benefits. Their eventual delivery and scale will depend on the construction programme and implementation of the approved scheme.
What concerns have been raised?
In its response to an early consultation in July 2023, Frodsham Town Council raised questions about the effect on the landscape, ecology and nearby businesses. It also questioned whether reflected sunlight from the panels could affect M56 traffic and whether residents would see sufficient direct benefit.
Those were concerns raised at an earlier stage of the planning process, not a new council response to this week’s approval. The developer says consultation helped shape its proposals and that its plans include habitat measures and a community fund.
What happens next?
Development consent is a substantive planning milestone, but it is not confirmation that building work is under way. Cubico says it will now progress detailed design and preparations for construction. Its project website explains that further plans and information must be approved by relevant bodies before certain work can begin.
A timetable previously published on the project website anticipated construction in 2027 and operation in 2029. Those dates remain indicative and should not be treated as confirmed start or opening dates following the approval.
Sources
- Planning Inspectorate: approval announcement, 27 October 2026
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: development consent decision
- Frodsham Solar: project details, proposed benefits and planning process
- Cubico Sustainable Investments: developer announcement, 27 October 2026
- Frodsham Town Council: July 2023 phase-one consultation response (meeting pack, page 29)
