Cobra Castle Solar Farm proposals
Developers have confirmed that plans to deliver Cobra Castle Solar Farm, on land to the east of Egremont, will not be taken forward to a second round of public consultation in 2026 or proceed to a subsequent planning application.
Following the latest results of the recent National Grid reform process, the developer refreshed its detailed technical and economic assessments for the solar farm and concluded that the project is no longer economically viable.
The proposals for the project were designed as a 35MW solar farm capable of generating enough low-carbon electricity to meet the annual needs of approximately 15,000 homes. Whilst continuing the land’s agricultural use, the development would have also delivered an enhancement to local biodiversity, a community benefit fund, local supply chain employment opportunities and business rate contributions.
A spokesperson for Belltown Power, the developers behind the project, said: “This has been a difficult decision, but a necessary one, as macro-economic factors have unfortunately made this particular project uneconomical.
"We are very grateful to local residents, community representatives and stakeholders who took the time to engage with us during the initial consultation. While we will not be progressing further with these specific plans, Belltown remains fully committed to investing in our pipeline of renewable energy projects across the UK, which will prove essential if we are to deliver the clean, secure and affordable power that the country needs.”
