Exagen has appealed a council decision to block its proposed new solar farm between Kenilworth and Balsall Common.

The application is split over two parcels of land near the A452, totalling over 52 hectares, and between two local councils.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council's (SMBC) planning committee threw out the scheme in February as objectors claimed the development would continue a trend of squeezing farmers out of the local community.

Warwick District Council (WDC) then rejected its half of the application saying it would harm the openness of the green belt.

Exagen claims 'Holly Lane Energy Park' would produce enough energy to power up to 11,000 homes.

It has now appealed both decisions as it looks to turn more than 10 arable fields into an energy park for up to 40 years.

In its statement of case before the appeal, WDC says it would only permit the development to go ahead if the works across the other council's patch were allowed.

This is because most of the solar panels would be located on the land in Solihull, with the Warwick district plot mainly dedicated to energy storage.

The energy park would be built over two parcels of land (image via planning application)

"The position of WDC is that, should the inspector find the proposed development on the main site (the solar farm) to be acceptable, very special circumstances exist to clearly outweigh the harm to the green belt and other harms arising from the proposed development of the eastern site," the district council explained.

But SMBC has not changed its position, arguing the development would "demonstrably harm the green belt, its openness and its purposes".

But Exagen has argued the benefits of the solar farm would far outweigh any impact on the green belt.

"The proposal would deliver energy infrastructure that would facilitate the transition to a decarbonised grid network which in turn would provide wider environmental benefits in terms of mitigating climate change as well as helping to enhance the country's energy security," its statement of case said.

"Energy storage is an important aspect of the national energy strategy.

"Storage has a key role to play in achieving net zero and providing flexibility to the energy system, so that high volumes of low carbon power, heat and transport can be integrated.

"It is also needed to reduce the costs of the electricity system and increase reliability by storing surplus electricity in times of low demand to provide electricity when demand is higher."

When the SMBC application was refused in February a public speaker talking "on behalf of local farmers" implored members to block the scheme.

"Continued development of the green belt is squeezing us out," said Marian Keeling.

"Last year we lost a tenant farmer who had land just over the boundary where Warwick District Council have approved the Honiley solar farm. He produced beef for the domestic food chain. 

"We have also just lost another tenant farmer at Berkswell where the HS2 site has not helped his cheese producing business."

She added: "This country's food security is just as vital as energy security. As an island nation we cannot afford to ignore that."

In its application Exagen estimated it would take up to six months to build the 28MW energy park, requiring up to 60 workers on site.

The company said the solar panels would produce enough energy to power up to 11,000 homes per year and "displace approximately 12,600 tonnes of CO2 per annum".

See the full application to WDC here and the SMBC application here.