A solar farm planned for Coventry greenbelt land aims to generate power for approximately 7,500 homes.
The land is greenbelt and close to Bedworth, Barnacle, and Bulkington. Coventry is also nearby. They need permission to build and run the farm, including its equipment and infrastructure.
It will be a 25.65MW solar farm with a temporary lifespan of forty years. The farm could power about 7,500 homes and reduce CO2 emissions by 11,000 tonnes yearly.
The farm will have eight groups of solar panels, facing south and standing 2.6m tall. Each solar panel is on a fixed system and covered with high-transparency glass that has an anti-reflective coating, reducing glare while absorbing sunlight.
Transformer stations are located across the site in three different spots. An access track connects them, running from the west access point and splitting east, north, and south.
Although the land is greenbelt, the plan has benefits that outweigh the harm to the greenbelt, as the application mentions.
Prior to submitting plans, they held a consultation. They sent information packs to 344 addresses near the site and in Barnacle; some Bulkington residents also received them. They also held an online webinar, and a Bulkington councillor attended a Teams meeting.
According to the application, the overall response has been good. It states that feedback had no new issues and all matters were already considered, leaving no more issues needing consideration.
The project will help biodiversity, is temporary and reversible, and will create rural income. This helps the local economy and provides jobs and business taxes.
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council are reviewing it, and you can find it on their website using reference number 040703. They aim to decide by May 9, which is the target date.