An introduction to the Lymm Community Solar Farm
The Lymm Community Solar Farm at Wildersmoor Hall Farm is a community-led renewable energy project proposed by Lymm Community Energy Ltd (LCE), a not-for-profit Community Benefit Society. The project involves the installation and operation of a 2.5MW solar photovoltaic (PV) farm on approximately 5.56 hectares of agricultural land at Wildersmoor Hall Farm, located roughly 0.25km from Lymm Village, off Whiteleggs Lane (see location map below).
Lymm Community Energy, a volunteer‑run organisation of local residents, is moving forward with its plans to construct a new community‑owned solar farm at Wildersmoor Hall Farm. The project will generate clean, affordable electricity for Lymm, reduce carbon emissions, and strengthen the resilience of the local electricity network at a time when demand is rapidly rising. As homes transition from gas to electric heating and vehicles, Lymm’s local grid has been operating close to capacity. The new solar farm will help meet this challenge by feeding clean power directly into the nearby Whiteleggs Lane substation, boosting capacity and supporting residents’ future energy needs. There is also the potential to directly supply nearby larger non-domestic customers by entering into novel power purchase agreements, supporting local businesses.
The chosen site meets all the necessary conditions for a successful solar installation: proximity to the existing electrical network, good sunlight exposure, relatively flat land, and existing vegetation that helps screen views of the panels. Only one field on the farm will be used, which allows the farmer to continue grazing sheep elsewhere as well as alongside the solar panels throughout the life of the project. Sheep farming and solar installations are known to work well together, as the panels offer natural shelter and shade. The layout also avoids the area of higher‑grade agricultural land (Grade 1 and 2), focusing instead on land assessed as Grade 3b and Grade 4.
Lymm Community Energy already has a strong local track record. In previous years, the group installed solar panels on the roofs of all four Lymm primary schools, funded through community investment. These systems have saved the schools thousands of pounds a year in electricity costs while returning modest interest to local investors. The new solar farm significantly expands this model—producing almost forty times more renewable energy than the school projects. As with the school solar projects, surplus income from the solar farm will go into a Community Benefit Fund that supports local environmental and community groups, in line with the organisation’s not‑for‑profit structure.
The solar farm will generate enough electricity each year to power the equivalent of around 1,200 homes, delivering carbon savings of more than 1,500 tonnes of CO₂ in its first year alone. Although it is modest compared with large commercial solar farms, it represents an important step for community‑led energy in Lymm. Because the local electricity network can only accept up to 2.5MW of new generation at this location, the project cannot be expanded beyond the approved design.
The project brings environmental benefits too. The field will be sown with species‑rich grassland, gaps in hedgerows will be filled with new native planting, and wildlife corridors will be strengthened. Studies show that solar farms can support greater biodiversity than intensively farmed land, offering improved habitat for birds and pollinators. The aim for this site is to achieve a biodiversity net gain of 173%.
The installation will operate silently, without light pollution, and with very limited visibility once planting matures. After 30 to 40 years of operation, all equipment will be removed and the land fully restored to agricultural use.
Construction and timescale
Construction will last around six months, with most deliveries occurring early in the process. Once completed, the site will generate very little traffic—typically just one small maintenance visit per month. Public Rights of Way will remain open throughout both construction and operation, and road protection measures will be implemented to minimise disruption.
Timing of the project depends on the achievement of various consents, from ecology through to electrical network connection. Assembling the required funding and agreeing energy supply contracts with local businesses will also take some time. A draft timeline for the project is shown below, with key milestones highlighted.
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If you have any questions that aren’t answered by this information or the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section below, please contact Lymm Community Energy on info@lymmcommunityenergy.org.uk
Map of the Lymm Community Solar Farm location, showing the access routes (for construction and occasional maintenance access) as well as the main site outlined in red.
Lymm Community Energy Solar Farm Frequently Asked Questions March 2026
Indicators of Government support for local renewable energy projects
Lymm Community Energy 