Battery farm plan unanimously rejected by council

Hundreds of people had lodged objections to the scheme planned for the village of Heath

Plans to build a battery energy storage system (BESS) close to a West Yorkshire village have been rejected.

More than 1,200 residents, along with MPs and councillors, objected to proposals to install 72 containers storing lithium ion batteries on farmland at Heath, near Wakefield.

Opponents said the scheme could pose a fire risk to residents and harm the local conservation area.

However, the scheme could still go ahead after applicant Harmony Energy lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate over a three-year delay in the council determining the application.

A public inquiry is expected to be held over the matter at a date yet to be confirmed.

BESS facilities take in power from renewable energy sources and then release it back to the National Grid when demand is high.

Julia Medford was one councillor who spoke in opposition to the plans urging her fellow members to protect the landscape

Wakefield Council's planning and highways committee unanimously voted against their officers recommendation to approve the scheme at Heath Common, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Normanton councillor Julie Medford told the meeting the area was "commonly referred to as Wakefield's jewel in the crown" and had never seen so much opposition to a plan.

"It this goes ahead, my children will not know this area. Neither will my grandchildren. The heritage will be lost in their lifetime."

Anne-Marie Nicholson, chair of Wakefield and District Gypsy and Travellers' Association, spoke on behalf of the traveller community which is situated close to the site.

"If there was a fire on this site due to the battery farm the impact would be devastating.

"We have elderly residents on site. We have children there who have autism and asthma."

Campaigners say they are "relieved" councillors rejected the scheme

Tessa Fletcher, senior planning manager at Harmony Energy, said the company operated renewable energy projects across Europe.

Ms Fletcher said the firm had a "strong track record" in the sector and operated 17 battery sites across the UK.

She said she understood the public concerns and added that the firm had an "excellent health and safety track record".

"Battery technology has been proven to be extremely safe, with over 160 sites safely operating in the UK and many thousands more across the globe," she said.

"Battery energy storage would not form a core part of the UK's strategy to manage our grid network if the risks were as high as suggested."

The I Love Heath Common group was set up in opposition to the scheme in 2022.

After the meeting, a spokesperson for the group said they were "hugely relieved" councillors had agreed to refuse the scheme and to defend the firm's appeal.

"We want to say thank you for the incredible support we have received over the last three years.

"We will continue this fight to protect this important landscape for future generations and look forward to putting our case before the Planning Inspectorate."

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