Agenda item

Land Comprising Field adjacent to Gells Farm, Murton Way, York [24/02303/FULM] (7:53pm)

Meeting of Planning Committee A, Thursday, 11 September 2025 4.30 pm (Item 17c)

Installation of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and associated infrastructure, including access, a high voltage substation, inverters, switchgears, fencing, CCTV, landscaping and biodiversity enhancements [Osbaldwick and Derwent Ward]

Minutes:

Members considered a major full application from Aaron Jackson for the Installation of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and associated infrastructure, including access, a high voltage substation, inverters, switchgears, fencing, CCTV, landscaping and biodiversity enhancements and land comprising field adjacent to Gells Farm, Murton Way, York.

The Head of Planning and Development gave a presentation on the application and noted that it was a recent application refusal overturn. She was asked and explained that the fenced off area to the left of the site was the area where the access road came through and there was no proposed use for it.

Using the screen, she showed the location of the Travellers site, holiday let site and neighbouring residents’ properties.

The 4.93 hectares for the battery storage system was equivalent to approximately 130 dwellings.

The Head of Planning and Development gave an update noting that there had been additional comments and from Highway Development Control for which there was an additional informative regarding Abnormal Indivisible Loads.

Public Speakers

Steve Harding, Agent for the Applicant, spoke in support of the application. He explained that more needed to be done to meet the energy demands to meet net zero 2050. He explained that battery storage provided short term resilience to the grid and there was only limited technical concerns raised during consultation. He welcomed the officer recommendation to approve and explained what the very special circumstances for approval were.

On behalf of the Applicant, Gary Johnson spoke in support of the application regarding compliance with all relevant fire safety guidance and regulations. He gave a short summary of his background and experience and noted the guidance for the site, explaining how it met NFCC guidance. He noted the separation distance had changed and the separation distance was double the required distance. He noted that the scheme met or exceeded all fire safety requirements.

Steve Harding and Gary Johnson were joined by the Applicant Aaron Jackson to answer questions. They explained that:

· There would be a fire risk assessment and the site would be fire safety compliant for the lifetime of the site.

· The site would be connected to the national grid. There was a need for battery storage and the scheme met that need. The batter storage would be connected to Osbaldwick substation.

· Battery storage of 60 gigawatts was needed to achieve net zero.

· The site was in the Green Belt and would be screened off for visual impact. Existing borders would be used and there was a loss of a small amount of vegetation at the entrance. Landscaping would be enhanced and hedgerows would contribute to biodiversity net zero.

· 12m was the highest part of the site was an electric substation which would be screen by hedges.

· Regarding the 40 year timeframe, the consent would only be for 40 years after which it would be restored.

· [The Head of Planning and Development noted that site ST7 was to the north of the site].

· The minimum distance from the battery storage to residential properties was 25m.

The Head of Planning and Development was then asked further questions by Members. She explained:

· How much weight could be given to the Planning Inspector’s decision and that significant weight was given to the planning balance. She added that officers believed that there were very special circumstances and that there was significant weight to the Planning Inspector’s decision.

· That the 40 year timespan for the scheme stood.

Cllr Fisher moved the officer recommendation to approve the application with the additional informative regarding Abnormal Indivisible Loads. This was seconded by Cllr Watson. Nine Members voted in support and there was one abstention. It was therefore:

Resolved: That the application be approved subject to an additional informative regarding Abnormal Indivisible Loads.

Reason: The proposal would be inappropriate development within the Green Belt which is harmful by definition, however it is considered that very special circumstances exist which clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and other harms identified above. When the harms are considered within the context of the urgent need for the Battery Energy Storage Systems as reflected in a plethora of Government publications which support renewable energy in all its forms, there is convincing justification that the benefits of the proposal in combating climate change and achieving net zero carbon clearly outweigh the harms. The recommendation is therefore for approval subject to conditions.

Supporting documents: