Fox Cover Solar Farm, Durham

Project Details

Enviromena has developed an 8.87 MWp solar farm in Seaham, Durham which is now fully consented following the grant of planning permission on the 12th March 2025.

LOCATION:	Seaham, Durham
POWER CAPACITY:	8.87 MWp
STATUS:	Business Development
MODULES:	TBC
NUMBER OF MODULES INSTALLED:	TBC
INVERTERS:	TBC
NUMBER OF INVERTERS INSTALLED:	TBC
CONNECTION VOLTAGE:	20kV
ENERGISATION DATE:	TBC

What was involved

The project was identified for solar development by Enviromena’s development team in early 2023 and Enviromena’s experienced land acquisition team agreed long-term lease terms with the landowner. An application for grid capacity was submitted to the DNO, Northern Powergrid.

The Fox Cover project presented a number of unique challenges that changed the overall development process and plans of approach. The available land area was more limited than initially anticipated, requiring a more compact and efficient layout design.

Planning approval

Planning for the Fox Cover project required careful consideration of several site-specific constraints. With a relatively limited land area available, the layout was optimised to make efficient use of space while still meeting planning and environmental requirements. To support local biodiversity, a dedicated skylark mitigation plot was included as part of the scheme, addressing ecological concerns raised during the consultation process.

Another key planning consideration was the site’s proximity to the nearby road A182, which introduced potential glint and glare risks for road users. A detailed assessment was carried out, which resulted in the orientation of the solar panels being adjusted to face away from the road, effectively mitigating any safety concerns.

These proactive design changes, alongside close engagement with the local planning authority and relevant consultees, ensured the proposal met all planning criteria. Planning consent was successfully granted in March 2025.

Management of the site

Enviromena will own and operate the site utilising the expertise of our in-house O&M and asset management teams. This includes the team carrying out performance monitoring, security monitoring, preventative/reactive maintenance, landscape management all while ensuring safety is maintained.