The applicant behind a large solar farm turned down by locals planners has not ruled out trying again. 

But campaigners have also said they are ready to resume the fight if Exagen Group appeals 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 Kenilworth.

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 per year.

But more than 120 campaigners backed the 'No Solar Here' campaign and at a meeting of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council's (SMBC) planning committee the plans were thrown out despite council officers recommending it for approval. 

And since that decision in February, Warwick District Council (WDC) has also rejected its part of the application, which crossed the boundary between the two local authorities.

"In conclusion, the provision of energy storage does not clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, the harm to the spatial and visual qualities of the green belt in this location and the harm that has been identified to the purposes of including land within Green Belt," a WDC report said.

"The harm to the landscape character and visual impact on the area, albeit limited, adds to the green belt harm and this further tilts the planning balance against the proposal."

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

During the meeting in Solihull earlier this year, campaigners said the development was "squeezing farmers out".

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

"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."

But in a statement this week Exagen said it was considering how to move forward with the scheme.

"We acknowledge the decision reached by Solihull Council's planning committee despite the planning officer's recommendation for approval," the statement said.

"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."

Despite this, campaigner Ian Mulingani doubled down on the strength of local feeling against the application.

"It was close to a unanimous vote which sends a signal (to the applicant)," he said. 

"Solar is a good thing, but on farmland it's a bit bonkers. There are alternatives. It was a bit of a money grab. 

"They could come back. We have had a load more banners printed and we are ready to go if we need to."