Cressing solar farm

EDF power solutions is planning to develop Cressing Solar Farm, a new solar farm on two areas of land south of Braintree, connecting to the national electricity grid at the nearby Braintree Substation.

The solar farm that we are looking at is divided into two sites: Cressing, which has received planning consent, and Cressing extension, which is in the early stages of development.

As with all of our operational solar farms, we will put in place a community fund worth around £20,000 over the lifetime of the scheme, as well as improving biodiversity and soil health.

We want your views on our proposals. This webpage introduces the Cressing solar farm and sets out how you can respond to a public consultation on our proposals for the Cressing extension.

Cressing solar farm is split across two different sites:

• Cressing – this 24MW solar farm received planning consent from Braintree District in February 2025 following a thorough consultation with the local community. The site was then successful in securing a Contract for Difference in February 2026, providing electricity to the National Grid at a fixed price once it reaches generation.
• Cressing extension – we are bringing forward our plans for an extension to our original Cressing project in order for us to make best use of the available connection we have secured at Braintree substation. We are still in the early stages and plan to consult with the local community on our plans.

Cressing Solar Farm would use photovoltaic (PV) panels to generate electricity from the sun. These panels would be mounted on the ground in rows. They would be set at an angle of around 20 degrees, with a maximum height of 3 metres and gaps between the rows. The panels would be surrounded by a light perimeter fence with a field gate at the site entrance.

The solar farm would connect to the National Grid at the existing Braintree Substation. We would install an underground cable to connect the two sites to each other and to the substation.

A map showing the location of both of the solar farms can be found within the document section further down this webpage.

We are in the early stage of developing our Cressing extension proposals and are keen to get feedback from the local community.  Ahead of in-person consultation events, we are currently writing to near neighbours to invite them to share their thoughts on our initial plans.

There are a number of measures we can take to better design the project and minimise the impact on local people. This includes buffers between properties and the developable area and adopting a landscape-led approach which reduces the visibility of the solar panels from local roads and buildings.

We will be writing to a wider selection of the local community in due course to share details of the consultation. Details will also be provided on this webpage.