Warwick Council backs gigafactory scheme

At a lengthy meeting of Warwick District Council’s planning committee, councillors backed an outline application for the project at Coventry Airport.

The proposal, which was recommended for approval by Warwick planning officers, is for a £2.5 billion factory, set to house facilities to build new electric vehicle batteries, as well as recycle used ones, and is expected to create 6,000 new jobs and support thousands more in the supply chain.

West Midlands Gigafactory, which is a joint partnership between Coventry City Council and Coventry Airport, is said to be the UK’s largest project of its kind and it is hoped it will be operational from 2025.

It will cover more than 5.38 million sq ft of space and at full capacity will be capable of delivering up to 60GWh of production per year.

It will be powered by a planned major boost to the local energy network, giving the gigafactory access to a 100 per cent renewable electricity supply from a combination of solar power and grid-supplied renewables.

The gigafactory, plans for which were first unveiled last February, would occupy the entirety of the airport site with all airport-related operations ceasing and the on-site businesses no longer able to trade from there.

In order for the gigafactory to become a reality it requires a major investor to come on board and the search for one is continuing.

If Coventry City Council also backs the plans, the applications would need to be referred to Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, because the development site sits within the greenbelt.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Gigafactory said: “The planning application for the West Midlands Gigafactory is subject to approval from both Warwick District Council and Coventry City Council.

“While we are pleased with Warwick District Council’s decision that it is minded to approve the gigafactory, Coventry City Council will also consider the application during its next planning committee meeting tomorrow. We look forward to its decision and feedback.”

There are currently no other battery plants in the UK but both Britishvolt and Envision AESC won consent for schemes in the North East last year.

Car makers are keen to work with gigafactories close to their own manufacturing bases and the Midlands is already home to names such as BMW in Coleshill, Aston Martin in Gaydon and Toyota in Derby while Jaguar Land Rover operates factories across the West Midlands.