The Cobra Castle Solar Farm has not been taken forward after the developers decided the project is ‘no longer economically viable.’

Belltown Power, the company behind the development have confirmed that plans to deliver Cobra Castle Solar Farm, on land to the east of Egremont, will not be taken forward to a second round of public consultation in 2026 or proceed to a subsequent planning application. 

A spokesperson for Belltown Power, said: “This has been a difficult decision, but a necessary one, as macro-economic factors have unfortunately made this particular project uneconomical.

“We are very grateful to local residents, community representatives and stakeholders who took the time to engage with us during the initial consultation.

“While we will not be progressing further with these specific plans, Belltown remains fully committed to investing in our pipeline of renewable energy projects across the UK, which will prove essential if we are to deliver the clean, secure and affordable power that the country needs.”

Following the latest results of the recent National Grid reform process, the developer refreshed its detailed technical and economic assessments for the solar farm and concluded that the project is no longer economically viable. 

Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister said: “I welcome the clarity this decision now provides for local residents. I want to thank everyone who took the time to share their views and engage throughout the process.

“As I’ve said consistently, any major development in our area must strike the right balance – supporting the transition to clean energy while respecting our landscape, agricultural land and local communities.

“That balance is essential if we are to maintain public confidence in how these decisions are made.

“I remain clear that West Cumbria should play a role in Britain’s clean energy future – but that must be done in a way that respects local voices, protects our landscape, and delivers tangible benefits for the communities hosting that infrastructure.

“I will continue to press for reforms that give us a fairer, more joined-up approach to energy planning, so that future proposals are viable, transparent, and genuinely in the public interest.”

The proposals for the project were designed as a 35MW solar farm capable of generating enough low-carbon electricity to meet the annual needs of approximately 15,000 homes.

Whilst continuing the land’s agricultural use, the development would have also delivered an enhancement to local biodiversity, a community benefit fund, local supply chain employment opportunities and business rate contributions.