Council sets new date to discuss controversial battery storage facility plans

A council has set a new date to discuss plans to erect a battery storage facility.

On Thursday April 9, Wealden District Council’s majors planning committee is set to consider proposals to create a battery energy storage system (BESS) on land associated with Pashley Farm in Ninfield Road, Ninfield.

Councillors had been due to consider the proposals last Thursday, March 26.

But the application had also been the last item of a busy agenda, which required councillors to discuss four other major planning proposals — collectively involving the construction of hundreds of homes around the district — before considering the BESS plans.

The committee opted to end the meeting after two-and-a-half hours, having only considered two of the proposals on the agenda.

This was due to the council’s constitution requiring a vote to extend a planning committee meeting beyond three hours. While an extension was put to the vote, this measure was not supported by the majority of members.

If built, applicants Elgin Energy EsCo Ltd say the facility would be able to store up to 130 megawatts (MW) of electricity, which would be drawn from the national grid at times of excess power generation.

In a statement submitted as part of the application, a spokesman for the applicant argued such facilities are required in order to transition to a “net-zero” position on greenhouse gas.

The applicant’s spokesman said: “BESS facilities are widely recognised as being not just necessary but central to meeting an urgent need in a declared climate emergency.

“Energy storage plays a crucial part in the drive to net-zero and provides the capability to store renewable energy for release instantaneously at times of demand, helping to stabilise energy security.”

While recommended for approval by council planning officers, the application has been called in to the committee by Liberal Democrat ward councillor Mark Fairweather.

According to a report to the committee, Cllr Fairweather has raised several concerns about the scheme, including the impact of its “industrial” appearance on the character of the surrounding landscape. He argues the proposed facility, under current plans, would not be adequately screened to prevent this impact, the report says.

Cllr Fairweather, the report says, has also raised concerns around the ‘soil impact’ and loss of agricultural land.

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Similar concerns have been raised by nine local objectors. Some of these objectors have also raised concerns around fire safety.

Officers note how the site is (at least partly) made up of what is considered to be the “best and most versatile land” in agricultural terms. But they also say the loss would be temporary and not significant enough to prejudice wider farm operations.

Council planning officers also acknowledge the development would “result in a level of landscape harm to the Low Weald”. But they say this impact would be both temporary and sufficiently mitigated as a result of both a “significant landscaping scheme” and an uplift in biodiversity.

Officers say the application is accompanied by a battery safety management plan, which include fire safety measures.

Planning officers say the scheme should be approved.

In a report to the committee, a council planning spokesman said: “Overall, the public benefits of the development — which include significant contributions towards meeting the UK’s Net Zero target, as well as furthering and increasing the use and efficiency of renewable energy sources — are considered to outweigh the relatively limited harm identified.

“It is also noted that many concerns raised during the course of the application can be addressed and controlled by the imposition of appropriate planning conditions.

“As a result of the above assessment, the recommendation is that conditional planning permission should be granted.”

For further information on the proposals see application reference WD/2025/0500/MAJ on the Wealden District Council website.

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