Warwick District Council approves plans for huge battery-making gigafactory at Coventry Airport - despite fire fears

Councillors acknowledged the concerns of objectors, which included those of neighbour Terri Wells over the prospect of lithium batteries potentially producing fires that are much harder to fight, but gave the green light without exception.

Outline – in-principle – permission for the giant battery-making facility, brought forward by the airport and Coventry City Council and backed by millions of pounds from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), was granted in March 2022.

The rest of the planning matters have been addressed through three further and separate applications, two of which were passed in December 2025 with the final one to cover the provision of all buildings and associated plot layouts, further earthworks, landscaping and internal access arrangements heard by councillors this week.

Ms Wells, who objected in December as well, addressed the committee with one last-ditch plea.

“I have two young children and their safety is still my number one priority," she said.

“This proposal was already found in 2022 to be contrary to the local plan and harmful to the green belt – that hasn’t changed.

“What also hasn’t changed is that the key impacts remain unassessed. Noise, emissions, operational detail and environmental requirements, there are still too many unknowns to justify approval.

“When I said this to my nine-year-old she said something very simple. ‘Please don’t build this in our village.’

“That is not politics, that is instinct. At its core, this is about people feeling safe in their homes and since we last met we now have real world evidence of the risks involved.”

She cited the example of a vape shop starting a four-storey fire near Glasgow Central railway statio in March, stating that was “believed to involve a lithium battery".

“That was one small unit. This proposal is on a completely different scale,” she continued.

“More batteries, more fire load, greater risk.

"Lithium fires spread rapidly and reignite, creating a cocktail of toxic fumes which, if inhaled, cause significant long-term respiratory harm.

“Here, we are talking about homes within 70-100 metres.

"No clear evidence shows that safety can be guaranteed at this scale.

"Bunding alone is not sufficient.

“Economic benefit cannot be traded for the safety of people.”

Planning officer Adam Walker – one of the council’s employed professionals who assesses cases – said such hazards were considered in 2022 and that Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service had been consulted again on elements relevant to this part of the plans.

“Because we are dealing with the layout of the site, it is mainly around ensuring there is adequate provision for the fire service,” he said.

“The applicant has provided information to demonstrate how their detailed scheme meets with the guidelines in that respect and the battery energy storage system element. We have consulted with the fire service and they have not raised any objections.”

In pre-meeting questions, chairman of the committee Councillor Alan Boad (Lib Dem, Leamington Lillington) queried arrangements for the storage of batteries.

The response read: “The applicant has confirmed that there is warehouse space integral to the battery manufacturing facility.

"However, as with a lot of modern manufacturing, it is anticipated that the facility will operate on a ‘just-in-time’ model and so there is unlikely to be any significant stockpiling.”

Councillor Richard Dickson (Lib Dem, Kenilworth St John’s) also asked how fire safety concerns would be adequately mitigated.

The response to his question detailed how the scheme would make adequate access arrangements for the fire service which take account of wind direction and conditions in the event of a fire.

It adds that formation ageing and testing areas have “in-built measures to contain and compartmentalise any fire and thereby limit its spread” with each external flank provided with a 10-metre wide fire track and that fire hydrant supplies will be a condition of development.

It concludes: “Overall, officers are satisfied that the fire hazards associated with the battery manufacturing facility would be adequately mitigated through the proposed design of the development, which aligns with guidance from the fire service.”

Councillor Robert Margrave (Whitnash Residents, Whitnash) sought more clarity.

He asked: “That includes the fire service saying that this is a safe place and they have all the mitigations in place so that the buildings next door don’t go up in smoke if the battery plant does – is it to that level?”

Mr Walker said: “That will come through the detailed scheme.

"Some information has been provided around fire hydrants, there is a call-out strategy for example, but that will go to fire and rescue and they will advise as to whether or not the scheme for hydrants is acceptable.”

Despite some trepidation, all 11 committee members said yes to a project that Councillor Bill Gifford (Lib Dem,Leamington Milverton) said was capable of having “national importance, potentially international importance”.

“I can understand the concerns that some of the public have but I can’t see how we can refuse this application,” he said.

After the meeting, Corin Crane, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “This announcement is great news for Coventry and Warwickshire.

"GreenPower Park is a critically important development that highlights the region’s position as a global centre for advanced manufacturing, clean energy and battery technology.

“Moreso, local businesses will have big opportunities across the supply chain whether that is construction, professional services or logistics. Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce looks forward to working with partners to help local firms benefit from this opportunity and to attract inward investment to the region.”