York Council Rejects Battery Storage Facility Proposal for Farmland

A proposal for a battery storage facility on agricultural land in York has been turned down, citing fire safety worries. Net Zero Fourteen Ltd had put forward the plans for the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), intended for a location off Murton Way, situated to the east of Osbaldwick. The company stated that this facility would offer essential energy storage, crucial for achieving climate objectives and national priorities. The Planning Committee of York Council cast votes to reject the application, citing, in part, fire safety issues stemming from the site’s configuration and its sole narrow access route from Outgang Lane. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported that the proposal involved placing 104 battery storage units in rows across the 3.4-hectare plot. Surplus energy from the power grid was intended to be stored there and subsequently discharged into the network during periods of heightened demand. Additionally, the project would have incorporated 14 transformers and a 240,000-litre water storage tank. The site was planned to be enclosed by a fence, equipped with CCTV, and connected to the current substation in Osbaldwick. Thirteen letters expressing support were submitted, and during Thursday’s meeting, local resident and environmentalist John Cossham urged councillors to grant approval based on environmental considerations. Steven Gough, representing Net Zero Fourteen Ltd, asserted that the facility would contribute to achieving ambitious climate targets at both local and national levels. He also stated that fire hazards had undergone independent evaluation and that no expert assessment supported the concerns that had been voiced. Seven objections were filed against the proposals, among them one from Mark Warters, the independent councillor for Osbaldwick and Derwent. Those who objected highlighted worries regarding traffic, potential damage to the greenbelt, water pollution, battery noise, and fire safety matters. Councillor Jonny Crawshaw, who chairs the Labour Committee, commented that it was challenging to disregard the fire safety concerns that had been brought forward. The chair remarked: “To do anything other than go against officers’ recommendations to refuse this would be difficult.”