Battery storage near Normanton given go-ahead following energy firm appeal
Wakefield Council initially refused an application from YLEM Energy to install 24 battery units at Cooksland Farm at Old Snydale
An energy firm has won its appeal over a decision to refuse plans to build a battery storage plant at a village farm.
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.
More than 100 village residents objected to the plans when the scheme was turned down in July.
The council’s planning and highways committee said installing the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) would be inappropriate use of the greenbelt.
The plan also includes building an access road to the facility which would be capable of storing 50MW of energy.
BESS facilities take in power from renewable energy sources and then release it back to the National Grid when demand is high.
YLEM Energy lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate, arguing that the site should be redefined as ‘grey belt’.
The concept was introduced by the government last year as part of an overhaul of the planning system designed to free up some greenbelt areas for development.
A planning inspector’s report, published on November 28, said: “Taken together, the appeal site can be considered grey belt land and as such, the proposal would not be inappropriate development in the green belt.”
A statement previously submitted on behalf of the company said: “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.”
In July, councillors were urged to reject the scheme by former Super League referee Ben Thaler, who spoke on behalf of 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 wellbeing.
“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.
“The access route is entirely unsuitable. Cooksland Lane is a narrow, unadopted farm track with poor road conditions and a 7.5-tonne weight limit.
“It cannot support HGV traffic, emergency access, or construction vehicles.
“If this development proceeds, residents could become entirely cut off in an emergency.”
Mr Thaler 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.
Addressing concerns, the inspector said: “I note the further concerns of residents with regards to impacts upon their living conditions, including through loss of light, mental health, noise and general disruption.
“During construction of any project, a level of noise and disturbance is inevitable, but additional details are to be agreed through a construction and environmental management plan prior to any work commencing on site.”
The report added: “The council did not object to the scheme based on matters relating to noise among other things.
“There is nothing substantive before me to indicate this would be of particular concern and this issue has therefore not been determinative.”
Aidan Van De Weyer, speaking on behalf of the applicant earlier this year, 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 decision was made following written submissions from involved parties.