Solar Farm Planning Consultancy

Technical, environmental and policy-led solar farm planning

Solar projects sit at the intersection of planning, grid, landscape, and environmental regulation. Our integrated approach ensures these interfaces are understood and managed from the outset. 

• Multidisciplinary coordination: Working closely with internal and external specialists in ecology, hydrology, archaeology, transport, noise, and landscape, we ensure your solar scheme is technically robust and aligned with planning and environmental requirements. 

• Policy and design optimisation: We help optimise site layout, panel configuration, access, and landscaping to respond to local character, visual impact, and biodiversity objectives, supporting a well-designed and defensible planning case. 

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): For EIA development, we manage screening, scoping and ES coordination to meet statutory requirements, identify mitigation, and demonstrate that environmental effects are properly assessed and managed. 

Planning documents and reports for solar farms

We prepare clear, persuasive documents that bring together planning, technical and environmental evidence to support your solar application. 

• Planning statements and supporting reports: We produce planning statements that set out the need, benefits, and policy justification for your scheme, addressing local and national energy, climate, and planning policy. 

• Statements of Community Involvement and consultation reporting: Where required, we document engagement with local communities, stakeholders, and consultees, demonstrating how feedback has informed scheme evolution. 

• EIA documentation: For EIA projects, we coordinate the Environmental Statement chapters and non-technical summary, ensuring consistency across contributing disciplines and clear presentation for decision-makers. 

Community consultation and stakeholder engagement

Solar farm proposals are more successful when they are clearly explained, and local issues are addressed early. We design proportionate, project-specific consultation strategies that build understanding and trust. 

• Online and in-person consultation: We use a mix of digital engagement (web platforms, webinars, surveys) and traditional methods (public exhibitions, stakeholder meetings, site visits) to reach local communities and stakeholders. 

• Managing concerns and expectations: We help you respond transparently to concerns on landscape impact, traffic, glint and glare, construction, and long-term site management, capturing feedback for inclusion in planning submissions. 

Solar Planning Expertise

At Arthian, our team benefits from a wealth of experience, including: 

• Specialist renewable energy experience: We have dedicated experience in planning for solar farms, BESS, wind projects and wider renewable infrastructure across the UK and Ireland. 

• Integrated technical expertise: Our planners work alongside environmental, geotechnical, hydrological, and ecological specialists to provide coordinated advice and solutions. 

• Strategic and pragmatic approach: We focus on deliverable strategies, balancing planning risk, programme, and commercial objectives to help you move from concept to consent with confidence.