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Planning appeal decision

Allowed30 July 20253355759

Henwood Lane, Catherine De Barnes, B91 2SZ

Planning appeal 3355759 at Henwood Lane, Catherine De Barnes, B91 2SZ (Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council) was allowed on 30 July 2025 by Inspector Plenty B, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposed development on the openness of the Green Belt and its purposes.

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
Postcode
B91 2SZ

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.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy P17Policy P10Policy P14Policy P15Policy P8Policy P9Policy P11Policy P16
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 153Paragraph 154Paragraph 155Paragraph 187Paragraph 198

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.

See how each was applied

The decision letter

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

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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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.