In 2023, Coventry Society member Peter Hunter wrote an article about proposals for a solar farm on Lentons Lane, located on the city’s northern boundary. He also submitted comments on behalf of the society to the local planning authority regarding these proposals. The City Council refused the 2023 planning application for several reasons, the main one being the site’s proximity to housing on Lentons Lane. Now, in 2025, the proposals have been revised, and Peter shares his thoughts on the current plans.
The Current Proposal
Lenton’s Lane Solar Farm Is a proposed new facility capable of producing up to 25 megawatts of clean, sustainable energy per annum. This is estimated to be sufficient to power around 7000 homes each year. The plans are part of E.ON’s 15 year partnership with Coventry City Council. The location of the site is important as it is very close to the major national grid Coventry sub-station and the associated battery storage facility on Aldermans Green Road. Essentially, the power generated at the site can be easily fed into the national power network. This proposed solar farm is one of several under construction or planned in close proximity to this major substation.
The majority of the site would be covered with solar panels mounted on the ground in rows. The panels would be up to 2.6 metres in height. Other equipment on the site would include:
- Inverters: which convert the direct current electricity collected by the panels to alternating current electricity which is suitable for transmission.
- Transformers: which control the voltage of the electricity.
- A control cabin: which ensures that the operation of the site runs smoothly.
The site would be surrounded by mesh fencing up to two metres in height around the operational site. There would also be inward facing CCTV for security.
Differences between the 2023 and 2025 proposals
It appears that Britain’s aging and often criticized planning system is working effectively in this case. The latest proposals address most of the concerns raised in the previous application. Key changes are:
- Increased Distance from Homes: The solar farm is now planned to be further away from homes on Lentons Lane.
- Relocated Site Control Building: The control building has been moved away from the Lentons Lane frontage.
- New Site Access Point: A new access point is proposed to reduce disruption during construction.
In more detail, the proposed site consists of three parts:
- Eastern Field: This area, located east of Sowe Common, is currently used for arable farming and is not overlooked. It is isolated, outside the city boundary, and has few features of interest. There were few concerns about using this area for the solar farm in the previous proposal, and this remains the case.
- Southern Area Near Lentons Lane Farm: This area, south of the Oxford Canal, is less contentious. Its southern boundary is formed by the M6, and it has been used for grazing for many years. Although there are faint signs of ridge and furrow, there are no significant features of interest. The land has been affected by mining subsidence, creating a significant pool south of the canal, which will need to be considered in the solar farm’s design. There are no fundamental objections to using this area.
- Northern Area Near Lentons Lane Farm: This area, north of the canal and between the canal and Lentons Lane, has been the most contentious. It consists of several fields. The area east of the farm is not overlooked and has no significant features of interest. However, the area west of the farm, bounded by the canal to the south and Lentons Lane to the north, has been the focus of attention and objections.
There are three fields here. The field closest to the road is used for grazing and is overlooked by housing on Lentons Lane. The original proposal had the solar panels close to Lentons Lane with a narrow landscape buffer. The 2025 proposal includes a buffer zone of about 100 meters between the solar farm and properties on Lentons Lane. The developers are willing to work closely with local residents on how to use and landscape this buffer zone.
The latest proposal also relocates the site control building within this area. Previously, it was positioned on the Lentons Lane frontage. It is now proposed to be moved back well within the site, about 200 meters from the road frontage and screened by existing farm buildings.
Another significant improvement is the relocation of the proposed entrance for construction traffic. It is now planned to be several hundred meters eastward along Lentons Lane, away from houses.
Other proposals now include part of the public right of way through the site being re routed to ensure it can continue to be used and linked into other walking routes nearby. There are also proposals to boost biodiversity on the site. Measures which are under consideration include:
- Sowing wild flowers between the panels and in open areas around the site.
- A biodiversity trail around the site.
- Sheep grazing – allowing sheep to continue grazing the site, grazing between the solar panels to help to manage vegetation in a natural, environmentally friendly way.
The developers are looking to undertake further consultation with the local community in order to identify ways that the site can be used for the benefit of the community.
The draft development timetable aims for a planning application being submitted by the end of September, with construction commencing at some time in 2026
Summary
The Coventry Society’s position on the 2023 proposals was that whilst supporting the principle of solar power, we were not convinced that the proposals as they stood were acceptable. Consequently the Society objected to the application. This time around, the applicants have addressed the principal issues that were of concern. Despite the fact that there will still no doubt be some opposition to the scheme, I will be recommending that the Coventry Society supports these current proposals.