Region
Wales
Hill sheep and cattle dominate Welsh farming, on upland and marginal land. Welsh Government planning policy also applies its own, distinct test for where solar can and can't go on agricultural land. That's one Wales-specific factor any Welsh landowner needs to understand before committing to a scheme.
Welsh agriculture looks different from most of England. Sheep and suckler beef dominate on upland and marginal land across Powys, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Gwynedd. Better lowland grazing and some arable land cluster toward the south.
For solar, that's a reasonable starting position. Wales's characteristic upland and marginal grazing land is generally lower-grade agricultural land. That's precisely the category planning policy favours for ground-mount schemes over higher-grade cropland.
That said, Wales runs its own, distinct test here, rather than simply mirroring England's. Planning Policy Wales treats 'best and most versatile' land — grades 1, 2 and 3a — as a resource to be conserved.
So, local planning authorities must consult the Welsh Government before granting permission for solar schemes of 20 hectares or more. That requirement applies whenever the land is classed as BMV.
In practice, this means a site-specific Agricultural Land Classification survey, carried out by a qualified soil scientist. That survey is usually the first real gate a Welsh ground-mount proposal needs to clear. It's worth commissioning before other feasibility work, not after.
Genuinely marginal upland is land unsuitable for productive cropping, usually adjacent to existing farm buildings. There, appropriately sited, screened ground-mount arrays have generally proceeded without the BMV objection that affects lowland cropland. Existing livestock grazing can often continue on the same land, through the scheme's life.
The other Wales-specific factor is the grid split between South Wales and North Wales's distribution operators. That split means the nearest usable connection point — and its cost — can vary meaningfully. It depends on which side of the country a farm sits.
Land & farm character
Wales's farmland is overwhelmingly hill and upland livestock — sheep and suckler beef on grade 4 and 5 land. That's true across much of Powys, Ceredigion and Gwynedd. Better-quality lowland grazing and some arable land cluster in the south and the Vale of Glamorgan. That skew toward lower agricultural grades is, if anything, an advantage for solar. Much of Wales's marginal upland is exactly the kind of land planning policy already steers ground-mount schemes toward. That holds, provided the land sits within reach of a usable grid connection.
Rural grid capacity
South and mid Wales sit mainly within National Grid Electricity Distribution's South Wales licence area. SP Energy Networks covers North Wales instead. That's a genuine practical difference, since the two DSOs run separate capacity maps and connection queues. Much of Wales's best solar-suited upland is also its most rural. As with Scotland's estates, the distance from a workable grid connection point matters here. It often affects viability as much as the land itself does.
Counties covered
Relevant sectors
Agriculture & Land
Farms and landowners treating solar as a capital and diversification decision — rooftop, ground-mount and agrivoltaics.
Learn more →Public Sector & Education
Public bodies and education estates balancing carbon targets, tight capital and strict procurement rules.
Learn more →Property Developers
Developers and housebuilders integrating solar at design stage for Building Regulations, EPC and end value.
Learn more →Sources & further reading
Frequently asked questions
Does Wales treat solar planning differently to England?
In one important respect, yes. Planning Policy Wales requires Welsh Government consultation before local authorities can approve solar schemes of 20 hectares or more on 'best and most versatile' land (grades 1, 2 and 3a) — a Wales-specific test that doesn't map directly onto England's approach.
Can we keep sheep on land we lease for solar?
Often, yes, on appropriately designed schemes — existing grazing can typically continue alongside the array. We assess whether your specific stock and fencing arrangement supports that before a lease is agreed.
Further reading
Insights for Wales
Scotland's Section 36 consenting process for solar, explained
How large Scottish solar schemes are actually consented — the 50MW threshold, the Energy Consents Unit, and why the process has almost nothing in common with planning permission in England or Wales.
Read more →Dairy farms and solar: rooftop, ground-mount and grazing income compared
How a working dairy operation should weigh parlour-roof solar, ground-mount arrays and grazed land-lease income against its own load profile, roof stock and grid position.
Read more →Solar procurement under the Procurement Act 2023: a guide for public-sector buyers
How councils, schools, universities and the NHS can run a compliant, audit-ready solar tender under the Procurement Act 2023 — or buy through the Crown Commercial Service's RM6314 framework instead.
Read more →Considering solar in Wales?
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