Today, we are launching a consultation on the draft Archaeology and Solar Farms: Good Practice Guide.
The Guide seeks to support developers, archaeological advisors, planning case officers, archaeological consultants and contractors by promoting a shared understanding and encouraging collaborative, constructive working relationships. The Guide sets out good practice and promotes consistent approaches to the process and timing of archaeological work on large-scale solar farms.
You can download the draft Guide below.
You can access the consultation questions here.
The deadline to respond to the consultation questions is 15 September, 2025.
The Guide has been produced collaboratively over the past 6 months following a workshop held in March 2025, by a drafting group of experts, and by a steering group comprising the following organisations:
- Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers (ALGAO),
- Cadw,
- Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA),
- Department for Communities, Historic Environment Division (HED), Northern Ireland,
- Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers (FAME),
- Historic England,
- Local Government Association (LGA),
- Planning Advisory Service, and
- Solar Energy UK (SEUK).
This consultation comprises of:
- 4 'about you' questions;
- 2/3 questions on each of the sections of the document;
- 3 final overarching questions
It should take around 25 minutes to complete.