Why 40 Solar Panels Could Soon Be Installed Near Hartlepool Docks..

The Land at Ferry Road Hartlepool, where the Proposed Solar Array could be sited if approved by the council.

New Solar Array Planned for Hartlepool Harbour After Power Connection Could Not Be Secured..

8th June 2026

A planning applications been submitted for a ground-mounted solar panel array near to the Hartlepool Docks to provide electricity for a previously constructed artificial nesting structure built for kittiwakes.

The proposed development would be located on part of an existing car park off Ferry Road Hartlepool, close to the main marine entrance to Hartlepool Docks and near the RNLI Hartlepool Lifeboat Station.

The application has been prepared on behalf of Hornsea Project Three (UK) Limited and submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council for consideration.

Solar Panels Needed After Power Connection Could Not Be Secured

The Solar Panels are required as part of the previously constructed Kittiwake Colony previously approved by Hartlepool Borough Council back in 2024

According to the planning documents, the artificial nesting structures were completed in 2025 and are now available for colonisation by breeding kittiwakes.

However, the developer states that a viable electricity connection has not yet been achieved, with the proposed solar installation intended to provide the power needed to operate and maintain the nesting structures, including lighting, security cameras and monitoring cameras used to observe the birds.

The plans include 40 south-facing solar panels arranged in ten rows of four. The panels would be fixed to a modular mounting system on an area of the existing car park that is described as surplus to requirements.

A container measuring approximately 2.6 metres in height would house the batteries and inverters & a small silent diesel generator would also be positioned next to the container as a backup power source. The planning statement also states the generator would only be used when necessary, typically during the winter months outside the kittiwake breeding season.

Works Expected to Take Less Than Two Weeks

The applicant says the installation works would take less than two weeks to complete and would only require three heavy goods vehicle deliveries to be used during construction: one for the solar panels, one for the container and one for the generator. Once the equipment has been installed, visits to the site would be limited to occasional maintenance trips using cars or vans. Access would be provided through an existing strip of hardstanding owned by PD Ports, linking the site directly to Ferry Road.

Councillors Contacted Before Application Was Submitted

The documents state that the applicant held a pre-application meeting with a Hartlepool Borough Council planning officer in February 2026. Consultation letters were also sent to councillors back in April, providing details of the proposal and inviting feedback.

The application seeks permission for the solar installation for a temporary period of 40 years, with Hartlepool Borough Council now set to consider whether the proposed development can go ahead.