Plans for a major solar farm in Coventry have been scaled back following public feedback, as E.ON and Coventry City Council launch a fresh round of consultation on the revised design.
The Lentons Lane Solar Farm, proposed for land next to the M6 between Aldermans Green Lane and Hinckley Road, has been reduced in size by 15%.
Despite this, the project could still generate 25MW of clean electricity – enough to recharge a single electric bus more than 66,000 times a year.
The rethink follows local concerns raised during the initial consultation in 2023. In response, E.ON has pushed key elements of the site, including solar panels, access routes and the control cabin, further away from nearby homes.
A new landscaped buffer zone of trees, hedgerows and wildflowers has been added to ease the visual impact, and footpath improvements are also proposed.
The site is part of a wider Strategic Energy Partnership between E.ON and the council aimed at driving local benefits from the clean energy transition.
Revenue from the solar farm would contribute directly to council finances, and the developers are also exploring ways to deliver local upgrades and community benefits.
These include solar panel installations or energy-saving improvements at community venues, partnerships with local charities, and work with schools on climate and energy education.
Vijay Tank, Chief Commercial Officer of E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions UK, said: “Solar power can be one of the cheapest and most secure forms of energy. The proposed solar farm, near Lentons Lane in Coventry is a real chance to deliver clean, local power and is exactly the sort of project that could ultimately help lower energy bills overall.”
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, added: “It will be a top priority for the project team to talk to local people and to show all the ways that they have been able to amend the original plan and to respond to the concerns raised by residents.”
The updated proposal is now open to public consultation, with local exhibitions planned for residents to learn more and give their views.
