The North Warwickshire Borough Council in England has declined a proposal by UK clean energy firm Enviromena to construct a 48.9-MWp solar park, the developer announced on Tuesday. The decision, contrary to positive recommendations from planning officers, underscores ongoing challenges in solar project approvals.
The ruling, coinciding with new pledges to reform planning regulations, marks a setback amidst recent approvals for three solar projects totaling 1.3 GW. Enviromena emphasized that the rejection was based on concerns that the project would adversely impact the Green Belt and local landscape, diverging from North Warwickshire Local Plan policies.
“We believe we've gone above and beyond the standard requirements in our planning application, not just on landscaping but on flood plans and mitigation,” stated Mark Harding, Enviromena's European Development Director. He expressed disappointment, noting that the company sees “no valid planning reasons” for the dismissal.
The proposed solar park aimed to cover a 150-acre site near Fillongley with photovoltaic (PV) panels, expected to generate electricity sufficient for over 16,500 homes annually. Enviromena plans to appeal the decision, seeking to address regulatory concerns and proceed with the project to contribute to renewable energy goals.
