®Planning appeal decision
Land at Murton Way, York, YO19 5UN
the erection of a battery energy storage system (BESS), together with associated infrastructure, site levelling works, site access, landscaping, and ancillary works
- Authority
- City of York Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- utilities-energy · Other Major Developments
- Inspector
- Major P
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the appeal site lies within an area which is Green or Grey Belt, and if in the Green Belt whether it is inappropriate development
- If inappropriate development the effect on openness and purposes, and whether there are any other considerations which would clearly outweigh the harm by inappropriateness, and any other harm, such that very special circumstances are demonstrated so that planning permission can be granted
- The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- Whether there is justification for the use of grade II agricultural land
- Whether the proposal has been shown to follow necessary safety protocols
What decided it
The substantial benefits of renewable energy storage infrastructure, together with biodiversity and grid-connection benefits, clearly outweighed the substantial Green Belt harm, establishing very special circumstances.
The substantial harm to the Green Belt and openness, together with moderate/minor character harm, was clearly outweighed by the substantial benefits of renewable energy infrastructure, significant biodiversity and landscape benefits, and the benefit of an early grid connection, demonstrating very special circumstances in favour of the appeal.
Framework references: 143, 160
Plan policies cited: Policy SS2, Policy GB1, Policy D2, Policy G14, Policy ENV2, Policy CC1
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.