An appeal has been lodged after district planners threw out plans to build a 49.9MW battery energy storage facility on the outskirts of Kenilworth.

Flexion Energy Storage UK - who put forward the scheme - said the development on farmland south of Banner Hill Farm would play a "critical role" in the rollout of renewable energy locally.

But Warwick District Council (WDC) refused to grant planning permission for the two-acre facility, saying it was "inappropriate development" in the green belt.

Planners also said the application for the Rouncil Lane site lacked detail on the impact on local heritage assets and biodiversity.

Now, Flexion has appealed the decision, asking for a planning inspector to have their say on the application.

The company says the scheme has 'very special circumstances' and should therefore be allowed in the green belt - especially as the facility would only be in place for 40 years.

"Energy storage and flexibility is therefore clearly a key part of the drive to ensure that the predicted increase in electricity use is sustainably sourced through renewable energy," the appeal said.

"Storage for the first time is included as key part of the mix of sources.

"It is clear that the development of battery storage schemes such as the appeal proposal is needed to support the wider, strategic objectives of the government and the transition to sources of renewable energy."

It added: "It is considered that the wider environmental benefits arising from the development are significant as part of the wider national strategy for decarbonising the energy sector and should be granted very significant weight."

WDC must now present its case for why the scheme should be refused.

The appeal comes as district councillors called for the local authority to create a policy on solar farms amid fears rural land could be swamped by panels.

"I have concerns about where we are going," Cllr Andrew Day said at a planning meeting earlier this month, where councillors discussed a giant solar farm that will power 7,500 homes near Sherbourne.

"We are updating and reviewing our local plan, the green belt is a big part of what distinguishes our local area and it is being taken piecemeal into solar farms. 

"This is the risk we have at the moment because we haven't yet arrived at our local plan.

"I think the weight on this committee is quite heavy until we get that local plan right because we could end up with virtually no green belt, or a very substantially changed one.

"We have already had HS2 blast its way right through the middle of our green belt so I am not going to pretend the challenge for our local plan is not significant. It needs to be refreshed, renewed and I would argue and underline that it be strengthened."