Substation and enabling works at Coventry Airport, Baginton, Coventry

What was proposed

The application sought reserved matters approval for a substation, earthworks, landscaping and internal access arrangements serving a battery manufacturing facility.

“Coventry Airport, Rowley Road, Baginton, Coventry, CV3 4FR Reserved matters application pursuant to outline permission W/21/1370 for the development of battery manufacturing facility with ancillary battery recycling capability including landscaping, car parking, access and associated works.”

“Outline permission was approved in March 2022 for the development of battery manufacturing facility with ancillary battery recycling capability and including landscaping, car parking, access and associated works. The applicant is seeking to bring forward this development through a series of phased reserved matters applications. The scheme is to be known as 'Greenpower Park'.”

Officer report

Officers’ recommendation

Officers considered the earthworks, drainage, substation, spine road and landscaping acceptable and recommended approval of the reserved matters.

“Outline planning permission has been approved for a battery manufacturing facility on the site and this application seeks consent for the reserved matters in connection with a series of enabling works that are to form the first phase of the development.”

“The details provided for the earthworks, strategic drainage features, primary substation and the main spine road are all considered acceptable. The strategic landscaping proposals are acceptable in principle, subject to consideration of the latest set of revised landscaping plans; an update will be provided to Members on this matter.”

Officer report

Access and environmental effects

The revised access strategy was considered acceptable for traffic and residential noise, while trees, archaeology, ecology and environmental effects were addressed.

“While no additional vehicle movements are generated by the proposed change in access strategy, it does mean that traffic will be focussed at a different point on Silver Eagle Way (Access 5 rather than Access 3). Transport modelling of the revised access strategy has been undertaken and this has been assessed by the Local Highway Authority, who have confirmed that the modelling of the accesses is acceptable.”

“The revised access strategy has also been assessed from a noise perspective given that Access 5 would take on a more significant role and this access is located closer to Baginton village than Access 3. The applicant's assessment concludes that the change at the nearest residential properties would be negligible and there would be no perceived difference.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Speakers included representatives of two parish councils, a councillor speaking in objection, a supporter and a ward councillor speaking in objection.

Committee consideration

The committee considered the report, presentation, addendum and representations before proposing that the application be granted.

“An addendum circulated prior to the meeting advised of amended plan received and an update to Condition One.”

“Following consideration of the report, presentation, information contained in the addendum, and the representations made at the meeting, it was proposed by Councillor Aizlewood and seconded by Councillor B Gifford that the application should be granted.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee granted the application because the reserved matters were acceptable and would not cause significant harm to appearance or residential amenity.

“The submitted details of scale, layout, appearance, and landscaping for the substation (the reserved matters) were considered acceptable. The development would not result in any significant harm to the character and…”

“PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES (Continued) 117 appearance of the area and would not result in any unacceptable impact on residential amenity.”

Minutes

Conditions imposed

Permission required compliance with approved plans and planting of temporary soft landscaping during the first planting season after the substation opened.

“No. Conditions (1) the development hereby permitted shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the details shown on the site location plan and approved drawings: • Primary Substation Compound Fencing Sheet 1 of 2 MN215926-MISC-200 Rev 03 • Primary Substation Compound Cable Arrangement Sheet 2 of 2 MN215926- MISC-200 Rev 03 • Proposed Layout and Landscaping - 1618701-MP-XX-DR-A-121204 Rev P01 • Substation Earthworks Proposals - 06292-CI-D-0720 Rev P01 • Sub-station…”

“(2) the temporary soft landscaping scheme as indicated on approved drawing number 06292-CI-D-0720 Rev P01 shall be planted within the first planting season following the substation first being brought into use.”

Minutes