Plans for huge Coventry solar farm rejected amid concerns

Edward Dewes, who lives on the land, said it was a "just decision against all of the odds"

Plans for a large solar farm that would have powered 7,650 homes in Coventry have been rejected after opposition from residents.

More than 60,000 solar panels would have been installed on greenbelt farmland in the north of the city as part of the proposals.

The farm was proposed by Coventry City Council, which said it would help curb climate change and lower energy bills.

The application was recommended for approval by planning officers.

But at a planning committee meeting on Thursday, councillors voted to refuse the application for Lentons Lane Farm, with two for and three against the plans.

Councillors raised concerns over the proximity of the solar panels to homes, and the impact on the farmer, Edward Dewes, who was currently living on the land.

'Screwed it up'

Mr Dewes, who has been a tenant of the 103-acre site since 1967, uses it for sheep farming and growing some crops.

He said he would lose his business and be forced into early retirement if the solar farm went ahead.

Speaking after the application was rejected, Mr Dewes said it was a "just decision against all of the odds".

"They've had three years to put this together, and they've screwed it up," he said.

The site is in green belt farmland

The council can write to the Planning Inspectorate to appeal the decision within the next six months.

The authority had wanted to put 65,000 panels, equipment and cabling on the fields.

The farm would have been in place for 40 years and generated 30 MW of electricity on a summer's day, according to the plans, which sparked anger from residents.

Dozens of objections were lodged and hundreds of people signed a petition against the farm.

A report by planning officers admitted the farm would cause harm to the greenbelt and the area's landscape, but said the benefits of the renewable energy would outweigh that.

"Overall, it is considered that the proposed solar farm would result in a substantial benefit in terms of sustainable energy production," the report said.