®Planning appeal decision
Henwood Lane, Catherine de Barnes, B91 2SZ
the construction, management and operation of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with associated infrastructure, including access, drainage, security measures and landscaping
- Authority
- Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- utilities-energy · Other Major Developments
- Inspector
- Plenty B
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposed development on the openness of the Green Belt and its purposes
- The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including consideration of the effect on heritage assets
- The effect of the proposed development on highway safety
- The effect of the proposed scheme on, and the potential loss of, best and most versatile agricultural land
- Whether any harm caused by the proposal, by virtue of being inappropriate development, 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 the Battery Energy Storage System in supporting renewable energy generation and the UK's transition to net zero emissions by 2050, combined with the severe locational constraint imposed by the requirement for a viable grid connection point, clearly outweigh the substantial harm to Green Belt openness and other identified harms.
Framework references: 11, 153, 154, 155, 187, 198
Plan policies cited: Policy P17, Policy P10, Policy P14, Policy P15, Policy P8, Policy P9, Policy P11, Policy P16
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.