HARRIS LAMB SECURES PERMISSION FOR BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SITE IN GREAT WYRLEY

Planners at Harris Lamb have successfully gained permission for a Battery Energy Storage System on green belt land in Great Wyrley.

Acting for Anglo Renewables, the business submitted an application to South Staffordshire Council for the provision of a battery energy storage site, a substation compound with associated infrastructure, fencing, access road, drainage and landscaping on land off Hobble Lane.

The planning consultancy has enjoyed sustained success in securing the green light from a number of authorities across the UK on Anglo Renewables’ behalf with this being the first time since the Government introduced its new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that the business has argued the case for a site being eligible for Grey Belt status.

Paul Barton, of Harris Lamb’s Planning Consultancy, said: “BESS decisions in the Green Belt seem to be getting easier, at it is increasingly recognised that such schemes constitute Very Special Circumstance to allow development in the Green Belt.

“Officers and members that we have dealt with tend to agree the need to achieve climate goals and energy security is an essential responsibility and battery storage has been highlighted as a Critical National Priority by the Government, which can outweigh the need to protect the Green Belt – where the need for such facilities are inevitably located – around our large cities.

“We have been involved in a number of successful appeals now which, with other appeal decisions has formed a clear direction of travel for such developments. We have excellent team to deal with the technical issues and worked with well-informed officers to work the applications through the system,” said Paul.

“We also suggested the site should benefit from being Grey Belt and given recent similar appeal decisions at Trafford and Walsall. However officers disagreed, which perhaps highlights the uncertainty around the issue.

 “A good working relationship with knowledgeable officers is, we believe, key to obtaining permissions and we pride ourselves on maintaining this,” he added.

James Stone, Managing Director at Anglo Renewables, said: “Once again, we would like to thank Harris Lamb’s Planning team for its understanding of the planning policy and the benefits of BESS.

“We are delighted that we have been given the green light to proceed in South Staffordshire, making the Great Wyrley BESS the latest renewable energy project we have secured permission for within the UK in order to support the country’s legislated target of reaching Net Zero by 2050.”

For further details on BESS and Renewable Energy Projects contact Paul Barton at paul.barton@harrislamb.com.