Energy firm appeals decision over battery plant

Plans to build an battery storage facility were refused by Wakefield Council

An energy company is appealing a decision to refuse planning to build a battery storage plant at a village farm in West Yorkshire.

Wakefield Council refused an application from YLEM Energy to install 24 containerised battery units on a one-hectare site at Cooksland Farm at Old Snydale, near Normanton in July.

The planning and highways committee turned down the development - which would be capable of storing 50MW of renewable energy - on the grounds that it was inappropriate use of green belt land.

YLEM Energy, which had also proposed building an access road to the facility, has lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate, arguing the site should be redefined as 'grey belt'.

The proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Cooksland Farm would harness power from renewable energy sources and then release it back to the National Grid when demand is high.

But more than 100 village residents objected to the plans and the scheme was refused last month.

A statement submitted to the planning inspectorate by the energy company as part of the appeal contends the site should be redefined as "grey belt".

The grey belt concept was introduced by the government last year as part of an overhaul of the planning system designed to free up some green belt areas for development.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the statement maintains: "The limited harm to the green belt is clearly outweighed by the acute need for renewable energy infrastructure and technology that supports the transition to net zero carbon emissions and helping to combat climate change, helping to meet both national and local policies.

"The appeal site's location is just 900m from a grid connection point and there are no practical sites outside the green belt that could reasonably deliver such a scheme in the local vicinity."

Safety concerns

In July, councillors were urged to reject the scheme by former Super League referee Ben Thaler, who spoke on behalf of more than 100 village residents opposed to the plan.

Mr Thaler told the meeting at Wakefield Town Hall: "This application poses unacceptable risks to public safety, infrastructure, and local well-being."

"The disruption to the local area and its residents during construction will be severe and prolonged.

"Vulnerable residents, including those in an elderly care home, face road closures, noise pollution, and daily safety concerns."

He said "critical sites" within one mile of the village, including a police station and the Vico Homes social housing maintenance depot, could be impacted if there was a fire at the BESS facility.

Aidan Van De Weyer, speaking on behalf of the applicant at the same meeting, said the renewable energy scheme would contribute to net zero targets by efficiently harnessing power from wind and solar farms.

He said: "We have worked very hard with officers to minimise the impact on highways, heritage assets and ecology."

He added there had been two fires at BESS facilities in the UK, but each had been kept to a single container.

"Safety standards have improved hugely," he said.

"There are many measures in place to ensure that this scheme is as safe as possible."

Ten public comments of support were submitted in favour of the facility.

Supporters said it was "important to embrace new technology to help switch to renewable energy".

Planning officer Chris Kenyon told the meeting no technical consultants had objected to the plan.

Committee members refused the scheme by three votes to two, with one councillor abstaining.

The Planning Inspectorate said the appeal would be determined following written submissions from involved parties.

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