High Court Upholds Planning Consent for Woolley Solar Farm

The High Court has dismissed a legal challenge against the planning approval for the Woolley Solar Farm, a proposed renewable energy project near Woolley Grange, east of Bretton Hall in Wakefield. The ruling confirms that the planning consent granted by Wakefield Metropolitan District Council in August 2025 remains valid, allowing the project to move forward. The solar farm is expected to occupy around 51 hectares of land and form part of wider efforts to expand the UK's low-carbon energy infrastructure. 

The legal challenge was brought by a resident who sought to overturn the planning permission through judicial review. The claimant argued that the council had failed to properly address several issues, including the impact of the development on heritage assets, amendments made to the planning application, and changes to national planning policy such as the introduction of the “grey belt” classification in the revised National Planning Policy Framework. 

A key argument in the case was that the council should have reopened public consultation after modifications were made to the application and after planning policy changes occurred. However, the Court found that there was no legal requirement to undertake a further consultation exercise. The judge concluded that interested parties had already been given sufficient opportunities to review and comment on the revised proposals and the evolving policy context during the planning process. 

The Court also examined concerns regarding the project's effect on the nearby Grade II listed Bretton Hall Registered Park and Garden. While the judge acknowledged that some wording in the council's planning report could have been clearer, the Court determined that any shortcomings in the report did not amount to a legal error. As a result, the heritage-related objections were not considered sufficient grounds to invalidate the planning decision. By dismissing all grounds of challenge, the High Court confirmed that Wakefield Council acted lawfully when granting permission for the scheme. The decision provides greater certainty for developer Boom Power, which welcomed the ruling as validation of both the planning process and the project's merits. The company says the solar farm will contribute to increasing the UK's renewable electricity capacity and support national net-zero ambitions, while work continues on securing and potentially accelerating grid connection arrangements.