Application submitted
The application has now been submitted and validated by Cheshire East Council. This is available to view on the planning portal by searching 26/2834/FUL. Thank you to everyone who participated in the public consultation on the proposals for Tabley Hill Solar Farm. To see the changes we have made to the scheme as a result of your feedback, click here.
Tabley Hill Solar Farm
Delivering solutions for the energy transition
Aukera is proposing a solar farm in Cheshire East that would generate 20MW of clean electricity - enough to meet the annual electricity needs of around 10,500 homes, which is equivalent to powering all homes in Knutsford.
At a time when the UK needs to strengthen its energy security, the scheme would increase the supply of domestically produced electricity, helping protect against reliance on imported fuels while supporting the transition away from fossil fuels.
How the plans have changed
What we consulted on
During the public consultation, we presented a wider site area of approximately 150 acres. We explained that not all of this land would be required for solar development and asked for feedback to help inform the final layout.
What we heard
Feedback highlighted a number of areas for the project team to consider, including the relationship between the solar farm and Swains Walk, landscape and visual effects, agricultural land, biodiversity, the setting of Tabley Hill Cemetery and the proposed Community Benefit Fund.
We considered this feedback alongside further environmental and technical assessment, and this helped inform the final proposals submitted as part of the planning application.
Original site area for consultation click to enlarge
How we responded
The submitted proposals have changed significantly from those presented during consultation. Changes include:
Increasing the annual Community Benefit Fund from £8,000 to £10,000, providing approximately £400,000 over the proposed 40-year operational life of the development.
Reducing the size of the solar development so that it is focused on land north of Swains Walk, with the southern development areas and part of the western area removed from the final plans.
Increasing the separation between the solar panels and Swains Walk. There would be no views of the development looking south from Swains Walk and views looking north would be extremely limited due to existing and proposed vegetation.
Adding native hedgerow and tree planting alongside Swains Walk to strengthen screening and help maintain the character of the route.
Increasing the land dedicated to biodiversity and landscape enhancement, including species-rich grassland, native scrub, woodland and new hedgerows.
Introducing a substantial development-free buffer around Tabley Hill Cemetery, supported by additional planting.
Refining the site access arrangements to reduce impacts on Swains Walk and support the retention of existing trees.
The final proposals comprise a smaller, more focused scheme within a site area of approximately 105 acres, while retaining the ability to generate 20MW of clean electricity.
Illustrative masterplan click to enlarge
About us
Aukera is a renewable energy IPP operating across the UK and Europe. We specialise in utility-scale solar, onshore wind, and battery storage, and are actively involved at every stage of the project lifecycle.
With 58.4MWp of renewable energy infrastructure already operational in the UK and a further 295.5MWp under construction, we are building a significant and growing presence with 60% of the pipeline located in Scotland.
Our team works from offices in London and Edinburgh, combining national reach with local expertise.
Beyond the UK, Aukera maintains an active development portfolio across Italy, Belgium, Germany, and Romania. Responsible development and genuine community engagement sit at the heart of everything we do, as we continue to invest in projects that support a sustainable, low-carbon energy future.