District planners have said an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is not needed before plans to build a 50 hectare 'energy park' on the outskirts of Balsall Common can progress.

Exagen Holly Lane Limited has revealed a scheme to turn fields across two parcels of land around Meer End Road into a solar farm and battery energy storage facility.

The developer had submitted the scheme to both Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Warwick District Council, asking whether an EIA was needed before a full planning application is produced.

But Warwick District Council's planning department said this was not necassary.

"There will be visual impacts as a result of the proposed development and potential impacts on heritage assets, however, it is considered that these can be adequately assessed and mitigated where necessary through the planning process," a council report said.

Plans show the larger of the two pieces of land would be used to create a 28 MW solar farm, with the smaller parcel housing batteries with a capacity of approximately 75 MW.

If approved, the two parts of the 'Holly Lane Energy Park' development would remain in place for 40 years.

"The development will connect into the existing 132 kV overhead powerline which crosses the eastern parcel of the site," the application said. 

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"The two areas would be linked by an underground cable which would generally follow the shortest route in the public highway."

WDC has recently said a 32 hectare solar farm off Rouncil Lane, Kenilworth does not need an EIA.

See the Meer End Road application here.