Coventry Airport battery gigafactory project, valued at £2.5 billion, has been granted detailed planning approval for the first phase of the GreenPower Park development. Approved in April 2026 by Warwick District Council, the decision unlocks 4.8 million sq ft of manufacturing space. GreenPower Park project’s planning approval builds on earlier outline consent granted in 2022. It now provides full design detail for seven large-scale manufacturing units, positioning the site as one of the UK’s largest battery production and clean energy clusters. This is as the UK continues to invest substantially in energy storage projects across the county including the Monk Fryston BESS that expects completion this year. The SSE Renewables battery project is also set to become one of the largest in the UK once commissioned.

Coventry Airport £2.5 Billion Transformation into a Battery Manufacturing Gigafactory Project

The Coventry Airport gigafactory project is part of the UK’s plan to establish domestic battery manufacturing capacity in support of the electric vehicle (EV) transition.

Additionally, the site sits within the Coventry & Warwick Investment Zone, a designated growth area offering business rate relief and stamp duty exemptions. These incentives are also designed to attract global battery manufacturers and supply chain firms. This reinforces the West Midlands’ place as the UK’s automotive and advanced manufacturing hub.

The development also benefits from proximity to the UK Battery Industrialization Centre (UKBIC). Here, the facility will benefit from prototype testing and newer battery technologies. This is also alongside integration with research and development capacities.

Coventry Airport GreenPower Park Battery Project Development Scope

Coventry Airport is being transformed into a large-scale battery manufacturing and advanced industrial campus.

Key Features

Total Investment: £2.5 billion

Total Floorspace: 4.8 million sq ft

Site Area: 250 hectares (wider development zone)

Number of Units: 7 manufacturing buildings

Unit Sizes: 69,000 up to 1.5 million sq ft

The scale and flexibility of the unit sizes allow for gigafactory tenants, battery supply chain companies and R&D and recycling facilities.

Development Timeline

Outline Planning Approval: 2022

Detailed Planning Approval: April 2026

Current Stage (2026): Pre-construction and site preparation

Next Phase: Infrastructure delivery

Project Cost

Coventry Airport GreenPower Park battery project follows a funding model pivoted on public–private partnership with investment incentives.

This is structured to attract private industrial occupiers as opposed to a single developer-led gigafactory. This model also allows for phased capital deployment aligned with tenant commitments.

Who is behind the development

Development Partnership:

• Coventry City Council
• Rigby Group

Planning Authority:

• Warwick District Council

Site Partners:

• Coventry Airport Limited
• Warwickshire County Council

Logistics Partners:

• UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC)