Bretton Hall: Own a share in the UK’s biggest community solar project
A new 40 MWp solar farm at Bretton Hall, on the Flintshire–Cheshire border, is set to become the largest community-owned renewable energy project in the UK.
Bretton Hall Solar will be entirely owned by local people and mission-aligned investors through community shares, with all surplus income reinvested into the region. The long-term community fund is projected to exceed £100 million over 40 years, supporting climate action, local investment, skills training, and community services.
The scheme will also help to cut carbon emissions, with an estimated annual reduction of more than 6,800 tonnes of CO₂, and will provide the equivalent of clean power for 8,400 homes.
A community share offer launched today aims to raise between £340,000 and £610,000 to complete funding for the first 1.5 MWp installation, marking Phase 1 of the development. The funding will unlock a £1.95 million grant from the Welsh Government’s Local Energy Fund and a £200,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales.
Phase 1 construction is planned for 2026 and will secure planning consent in perpetuity while clearing development debt.
Jacob Calland, PR and Marketing Manager at YnNi Newydd, said: “Instead of profits flowing to distant shareholders, every penny of surplus will stay local, supporting people and places across Flintshire, Cheshire and the wider region. It shows what is possible when communities take control of the infrastructure that shapes their future.”
Further details, including how to apply for shares, are available on the Bretton Hall Solar website.
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