The Site

Castle Hills Solar Farm covers approximately 63.8 hectares and would be located on four parcels of land to the south of Birmingham Airport and the northeast of Solihull, situated between the M42 motorway and Damson Parkway.

  • The first parcel lies east of Bickenhill village, enclosed by Church Lane, the M42 and the railway line. It is currently used for agriculture and holds limited ecological value.
  • The second parcel is positioned to the west of the A4545, to the south of Birmingham Airport. No solar panels are located within this parcel – it is retained within the site boundary solely to deliver biodiversity enhancement, including the creation and long-term management of species-rich grassland, as part of a commitment to high-quality ecological legacy.
  • The third parcel comprises a smaller agricultural field parcel near Woodhouse Farm.
  • The fourth parcel comprises three agricultural field parcels to the north of Catherine-de-Barnes, beyond the Grand Union Canal, also used for grazing.

The site would consist of rows of ground-mounted solar panels, which convert sunlight into up to 49.9MW of renewable electricity. On-site 5MW battery energy storage units, housed in containers, will store excess energy and release it during peak demand to support a stable and reliable energy supply.

Access to the eastern parcel is served via a revised route using the existing Church Lane access to the north of the site, helping to avoid potential conflicts over third-party land. Access to the southern parcels is via the track to Woodhouse Farm from Catherine-de-Barnes Lane. Both access routes connect to the A45 to the north.

Site boundary indicative.

Public Rights of Way

A network of Public Rights of Way crosses and surrounds the site, and all routes will be retained throughout both the construction and operational phases of the project. Key routes are in and around the eastern parcel and the southern parcels, as well as the Grand Union Canal towpath which runs along the southern boundary of the site.

The following measures, as detailed in the site’s comprehensive Landscape Masterplan, will be put in place to protect and enhance these routes:

  • A buffer of at least 10 metres will be maintained on either side of all Public Rights of Way that cross the site, with no solar panels or infrastructure installed within this zone to ensure users do not feel constricted or enclosed.
  • The PRoW to the south of the site, M130, will be set back a full 20 metres from the nearest panels to further reduce visual prominence while taking advantage of the sloping topography to retain expansive views outwards from the path.
  • New native hedgerow planting and the strengthening of existing boundaries by filling gaps with native species will be introduced alongside key footpaths to provide screening without removing the open character valued by walkers. This initiative supports the project’s commitment to delivering a 17.4% net gain in linear hedgerow units.
  • The walking experience will be further improved through the creation of species-rich grassland and enhanced wildlife corridors immediately adjacent to the paths, providing a high-quality ecological legacy for recreational users.
  • All PRoW routes will remain fully open and passable throughout the construction period. No temporary closures or diversions are anticipated.
  • Construction traffic management measures will ensure that any points where routes cross site access tracks are managed safely, with advance warning signage and bankspeople in place where necessary.

A map to view Public Rights of Way in Solihull can be found by clicking here.