®Planning appeal decision
National Grid Mill Hill Substation , Land west of National Grid Mill Hill Substation , Mill Hill, NW7 1NT
the installation of a battery storage facility including inverter and transformer stations, battery storage containers, other associated infrastructure works, security fencing and lighting
- Authority
- London Borough of Barnet
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- utilities-energy · Other minor developments
- Inspector
- Plenty B
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the openness of, and purposes of including land within, the Green Belt
- Whether any harm caused by the proposal, by virtue of being inappropriate development in the Green Belt, and any other identified harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations to result in 'Very Special Circumstances'
What decided it
The substantial public benefits of supporting renewable energy infrastructure and the UK's transition to net zero carbon, combined with the severe locational constraints that make this the only viable site in the London area, clearly outweigh the moderate harm to Green Belt openness and encroachment.
Framework references: 11, 137, 138, 147, 148, 149, 150, 158, 174, 185
Plan policies cited: London Plan Policy G2, Barnet Core Strategy Policy CS7, Barnet Development Management Policies Policy DM15, Barnet Development Management Policies Policy DM16, London Plan Policy SI1
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.