UK solar farm lease rates typically range from £850 to £1,350 per acre annually. Battery storage sites can pay up to £3,000/acre. Rates depend on grid connection proximity, land size, and local demand.

Solar farm leases typically run for 25-40 years, with options to extend. Payments are usually index-linked to inflation (RPI or CPI), protecting your income over time.

Most developers look for a minimum of 20-50 acres for utility-scale solar farms. Smaller sites of 5-20 acres may still be viable depending on grid capacity. Battery storage only requires 1-2 acres.

Yes, solar farms over 1MW (approximately 6-8 acres) require planning permission. Projects over 50MW in England are classed as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and follow a different process. See our full solar planning permission guide for details on timelines, agricultural land grades, and common refusal reasons.

Yes, many solar farms allow sheep grazing between panel rows. Some sites also incorporate wildflower meadows for biodiversity, which can count towards Biodiversity Net Gain requirements.

Key factors include: proximity to grid infrastructure (ideally within 2.5 miles of a primary substation), land size, topography (flat or south-facing preferred), flood risk, and agricultural land classification.