Project Overview

Our approved BESS project on c.3 ha of Green Belt land will be capable of storing enough electricity to supply over 240,000 homes with energy for two hours, helping to reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by more than 62,000 metric tonnes. By storing excess renewable energy when it is abundant and releasing it at peak demand, the project will play a crucial role in stabilising the grid, addressing supply-demand imbalances, and furthering the UK’s goals for net-zero emissions by 2035.

Battery storage systems like this are essential to grid infrastructure, supporting renewable energy sources like wind and solar, which are intermittent by nature. BESS technology helps store energy generated during periods of high renewable output and supplies it when demand increases, creating a balanced and reliable energy system.

Throughout the determination stages, our team worked diligently to address several key matters, including the flood drainage strategy, highway officer comments, and landscape visual considerations. By developing robust solutions in collaboration with expert consultants and the Local Planning Authority Officers, we successfully overcame each of these challenges, demonstrating our commitment to responsible development that demonstrated very special circumstances.

Positive community engagement and delegated approval process.

A key factor in the success of this planning application was our commitment to a proactive and positive engagement strategy. By involving the community and key stakeholders early on, both during the pre-application phase and throughout the determination stages, we minimised objections and addressed community concerns directly. This successful engagement led to very few objections and enabled the Local Planning Authority to issue a delegated Officer decision, rather than requiring a formal Planning Committee review.

Beyond its impact on the grid, this project will bring several benefits to the community and environment with a biodiversity net gain in excess of 85%.

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