Here are the biggest Kenilworth planning stories from the past week.

Solar Farm Approved

Plans for a giant solar farm with enough clout to power 6,000 homes on rural land to the west of Kenilworth has been given green light – despite planning professionals recommending rejection.

The 54.6 hectare plot of mainly agricultural land, equivalent to approximately 85 full-size football pitches, sits to the west of Honiley Road, Honiley, and in the green belt. 

Warwick District Council received 120 objections from the public as well as Beausale, Haseley, Honiley & Wroxall Parish Council and Warwickshire County Council's landscape department. 

Read more here

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Pub's Plans

A Kenilworth pub has been refused permission for an "unneighbourly" barbecue shed in its garden over environmental health concerns. 

The Royal Oak, New Street, Kenilworth, is a Grade II listed pub that sits in a residential area with two small patio areas next to people's homes. 

A shed to house the barbecue, albeit without the cooking facilities installed, has already been put up directly underneath a property that has skylights that open in its roof.

Read the full story here.

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Car Park Canned

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is facing questions over its decision to scrap a 4,500-space multi-storey car park at the HS2 Interchange Station.

A fiery debate between two party leaders erupted last night over whether a surface car park was the best use of land.

Original HS2 plans involved a 7,500-space surface car park, which was then reduced to 4,500 spaces in a multi-storey structure to free up a large area of land for development.

This has now become an initial 2,750 surface spaces for Phase 1 of HS2 plus another 1,750 if the northern HS2 line comes into service.

Read the full story here.

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