A planning application has been submitted to Nuneaton Council for a solar farm between Bulkington and Coventry.
The site is at Hollyhurst Farm on Mile Tree Lane (B4109) between Alderman’s Green and Bulkington.
The site is currently greenbelt land. Planning permission is being sought for the construction and operation of a solar PV farm as well as associated equipment and infrastructure.
It is proposed to be a 25.65MW solar farm for a temporary period of 40 years. “The site will provide the equivalent electricity requirements of approximately 7,500 households,” the application states.
It adds: “This would result in an estimated CO2 emission reduction of approximately 11,000 tonnes per annum. The farm will boast eight distinct groups of south-facing Solar PV arrays with a maximum height of 2.6m above ground level.
“Each of the solar panels will be mounted on a fixed panel system,” the application explains. “The panels are covered by high-transparency solar glass with an antireflective coating which minimises glare and glint while aiding in the maximum absorption of the available sunlight.
“Transformer stations are situated throughout the site in three locations and are accessible via an internal access track which runs from the primary access point to the west where it meets a central junction and turning head and splits off to the east, north and south.”
It explains that while the land is classed as greenbelt, there are ‘public and other benefits’ arising from the scheme that are of ‘sufficient magnitude’ to outweigh the harm arising to the greenbelt.
The application adds that a consultation was held prior to the plans being submitted. This included a community information pack being posted to 344 addresses primarily within 1km of the site, but also in Barnacle and those to the western edge of Bulkington.
There was also an online community consultation webinar attended by only two residents, and a Teams meeting held with a Bulkington ward councillor. The application states that, overall, the response to the development has been ‘positive.’
“Overall the feedback received didn’t raise any matters that have not already been considered, and therefore, there are no additional matters to be considered in the application submission,” the application states.
It concludes: “The proposed development will present a significant, positive and measurable net gain in biodiversity, and will present a time-limited and completely reversible land use which provides an increased, diversified and stable source of rural income, which contributes to the local economy by way of employment and business rates payments.”
The application is now being considered by the planning team at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. It can be viewed on the council’s website, searching for reference 040703 in the planning application section.
The target decision date for the application is May 9.
The development is close to a similar scheme at Tolldish Hall Farm, Parrots Grove which was approved in 2023 and to a scheme in Coventry at Alderman’s Green, which was refused, against officers’ recommendations, last year.