A planned solar farm between Kenilworth and Balsall Common could continue the trend of squeezing farmers out of the local community.

That was the message to councillors last week as they refused planning permission for 'Holly Lane Energy Park'.

The development would have been split on two parcels of land near the A452, totalling over 52 hectares, and could have powered up to 11,000 homes.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council's (SMBC) planning committee threw out the plans from developer Exagen, saying they constituted inappropriate development of the green belt.

But before members discussed the application - which was also objected to by the parish council - 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."

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

Councillors were in agreement and said the energy park - which would have been in place for 40 years - could not be allowed, and the 10 arable fields must be retained.

"There's no doubt there is a need for renewable energy, there is no doubt we have a climate change thing going on," said Cllr Maggie Allen.

"[But] I can't bear the thought of farmers losing their livelihood over this when there are alternative places for this and they should be looked at. 

"We don't need this in the green belt and Balsall Common seems to be bombarded at the moment with these sorts of applications."

The application is a joint scheme, split over both SMBC and Warwick District Council (WDC) land. The latter is yet to determine its part of the plans.

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".

And speaking on behalf of the company at last week's meeting, Helen Hewitt said: "There is an identified need for this development which will directly address climate change by providing cheap, clean electricity. 

"There is an increasingly urgent need to combat climate change."

See the full application to WDC here.