Contentious solar farm plans may rear head again

THE company behind a plan for large solar farm which was turned down by Solihull planners has not ruled out trying again.

But campaigners said they were ready to resume the fight if Exagen Group appealed the decision or returned with another application.

Plans for Holly Lane Energy Park included a large solar farm and battery storage units on greenbelt land at Meer End, an area between Balsall Common and Solihull.

Exagen wanted to erect the solar farm on fields just off Meer End Road, which is also the site of a number of homes.

The solar farm was proposed to export a capacity of 28MW – equivalent to the electricity usage of around 11,000 homes in Solihull per year.

Over 120 campaigners backed the ‘No Solar Here’ campaign and at a meeting of Solihull Council’s planning committee the plans were thrown out despite council officers recommending it for approval.

Cllr Martin McCarthy (Con, Merstone) said: “If this is allowed what will be distinctive about this area? It will be an industrial zone, not a place to live.”

Cllr Heather Delaney (Con, Meriden) said: “We all understand the need for green energy but we have to balance that need with the need to protect our ever-dwindling green belt. Solar farms don’t need to be on green fields, they don’t need to be on the green belt. They (solar panels) can be in warehouses, schools, over car parks. There is plenty of that land available.”

Cllr Richard Holt, chairman of the planning committee, said: “Climate emergency is at the front of our minds. I don’t think this is appropriate. It urbanises our rural landscape. This is a money-making scheme. It is a cost to the green belt and not something that can be replaced.”

Eight councillors voted against the scheme with one abstention at the meeting in March.

Campaigner Ian Mulingani said: “It was close to a unanimous vote which sends a signal (to the applicant). Solar is a good thing, but on farmland it’s a bit bonkers. There are alternatives. “It was a bit of a money grab.” An Exagen spokesman said: “We acknowledge the decision reached by Solihull Council’s planning committee despite the planning officer’s recommendation for approval.

“The energy park would improve the UK’s energy security, significantly contribute to a reduction in carbon emissions and deliver substantial biodiversity net gain. We remain convinced of the benefits the project would provide and we are currently considering our next steps. The council set a renewable energy target of 430MW of installed capacity, of which just 10.6MW is installed.

“This project alone would nearly treble this and displace 12,600 tonnes of CO2 per year.”