A new solar panel farm near Coventry which is set to power over 7,000 homes is expected to receive approval from Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council despite its Green Belt location. The project will operate for 40 years before the land is restored to its original state.
40-Year Solar Power Plan
A new solar panel farm on the outskirts of Coventry is set to receive approval from Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. This ambitious project which would power over 7,000 homes is proposed for Green Belt land near the border of Bedworth and Coventry. If approved, it will be one of the largest solar installations in the region. This represents a significant step towards local renewable energy goals.
Proposed solar farm near Coventry, set to power over 7,000 homes and advance local renewable energy efforts.
The proposed solar farm would be located on farmland at Tolldish Hall Farm, Hawkesbury Lane, and is expected to remain in place for 40 years. Once the operational period ends, the entire development will be decommissioned and the land will be restored to its original condition.
Planning officers have recommended that the council approve the project, despite its location in the Green Belt. The final decision will be made by the council's planning committee on Tuesday, August 29.
Environmental Impact and Energy Production
The solar farm is expected to generate up to 25 MW of power, which would supply energy to approximately 7,091 households. This would contribute significantly to reducing carbon emissions, displacing around 5,055 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. The project aligns with national and local climate goals by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to the broader renewable energy mix.
A report prepared for the planning committee outlines the renewable energy benefits of the project. It emphasizes the importance of transitioning to cleaner energy sources and highlights the potential environmental impact of the solar farm. While the project introduces a substantial amount of development into the area, the report suggests that the harm to the Green Belt would be mitigated by the temporary nature of the development and the planned restoration of the site after 40 years.
The proposed site includes several Grade II-listed buildings, including Tolldish Hall, Tolldish Hall Cottage, and Hawkesbury Hall. The planning committee report acknowledges the potential impact on these heritage assets but suggests that the public benefits of the project outweigh the harm.
Access to the solar farm would be from the B4109, with two access points planned. Construction vehicles would use an existing agricultural access near Tolldish Hall Farm, while operational vehicles would enter from a track leading to Hollyhurst Farm.
Mitigation Measures and Landscape Impact
The planning committee report highlights several mitigation measures to minimize the impact of the solar farm on the surrounding area. These include retaining existing boundary vegetation, planting new native hedgerows, and creating species-rich grasslands and wildflower meadows. These measures aim to reduce the visual impact of the development and help integrate it into the landscape.
Despite these efforts, the report acknowledges that the solar farm would still cause harm to the Green Belt by reducing its openness. The scale of the project, along with the presence of substations, transformers, and CCTV posts, would introduce a significant amount of built form into the area.
The planning committee will weigh the benefits of the solar farm against its potential harm to the Green Belt and the surrounding landscape. The report concludes that the temporary nature of the project, combined with the proposed mitigation measures, should be enough to secure approval.
If approved, the solar farm would play a crucial role in the region's transition to renewable energy. However, it would also alter the landscape for the next four decades. The final decision rests with the planning committee members, who will meet on August 29 at the Town Hall to determine the project's fate.