Design of your solar farm

To ensure fire and rescue services can access your site in the event of a fire or emergency, your planning application should show that you have considered the following:  

What solar farms should consider

  1. The provision of a detection and monitoring system capable of: 
    -   24/7 monitoring
    -   the identification of potential failure conditions 
     -   able to shut-down and isolate affected inverters, panels and arrays  
  2. Site operators should have a 24/7 emergency response procedure that enables KFRS to seek specialist advice from on-site personnel already in attendance.
  3. The application must identify (a) any surrounding communities, sites or infrastructure that may be impacted as a result of an incident; (b) any others who may be at risk in the event of a fire.
  4. PV panels - there is adequate separation between PV panels, inverters and any other buildings or structures in order to limit fire spread and enable permanent vehicular access for firefighting.
  5. Arrays - provide and ensure there is adequate separation between arrays in order to limit fire spread and allow permanent vehicular access for firefighting
  6. Provide safety and isolation information on-site for use by fire crews.
  7. Sufficient water should be available for firefighting. Where on-site fire hydrants are provided, these should be maintained and periodically tested by the operator.
  8. Plan drawings should be provided showing the site design including safe access routes for fire appliances to enter and manoeuvre within the site (including turning circles). KFRS expectations is that access routes will meet the typical fire and rescue access route specifications given in Section 15 of ADB Vol 2.
  9. An alternative access point and approach route has been/will be provided and maintained to enable appliances to approach from an up-wind direction.

Solar farms and generating capacity

'Solar farms usually require planning permission. The size of a solar farm will determine which body decides the application. For example, in England: 

  • Solar farms with a generating capacity below 50 megawatts (MW) need planning permission from the local planning authority (LPA).
  • Solar farms with a generating capacity above 50 MW need development consent from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, because they are nationally significant infrastructure projects’ (NSIPs). '*

*Taken from Research Briefing - 20 May 2024 'Planning for solar farms' - House of Commons Library