Land at Beechwood Farm, Hodgetts Lane, Berkswell, Solihull, Coventry, CV7 7DG

Planning appeal 3343977 at Land at Beechwood Farm, Hodgetts Lane, Berkswell, Solihull, Coventry, CV7 7DG (Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council) was allowed on 9 January 2025 by Inspector Gethin T, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposed development on the openness of the Green Belt.

Installation of a battery energy storage system with associated infrastructure

Authority: Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
Appeal type: major · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: utilities-energy · Other Major Developments
Inspector: Gethin T
Postcode: CV7 7DG

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the proposed development on the openness of the Green Belt
the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The substantial economic, social and environmental benefits of the battery energy storage system in supporting renewable energy deployment and decarbonisation, combined with the pressing need for such facilities and the absence of more suitable alternative sites outside the Green Belt, clearly outweighed the moderate harm to Green Belt openness and limited harm to character and appearance.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy P17Policy P10Policy P14Policy P15

How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.

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The decision letter

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More decisions in Solihull

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025

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Allowed17 July 20266005246
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Dismissed28 May 20266006096
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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.