Giant battery installation approved for Halesowen green belt

Plans for giant three metre batteries to be installed on Halesowen green belt have been approved on appeal.

The Planning Inspectorate has overturned a Dudley Council decision to refuse the project on land at Lowlands Farm on Illey Lane despite agreeing it will harm the green belt.

The council argued the site was an Area of High Historic Landscape Value (AHHLV) because it is just a kilometre away from Halesowen Abbey which dates back to the 13th century.

After a site visit, planning inspector Andrew Owen agreed the site does make some contribution to preventing expansion of built up areas and the project would spoil countryside views.

Mr Owen said: “The development would be visible from a number of viewpoints, even accounting for the screening proposed. 

“Given the scale of the development and its visibility, there would be a significant loss of visual openness.

“I consider it does make a strong contribution to the green belt and the development would conflict with the Green Belt’s purpose to safeguard the countryside from encroachment.”

The inspector however also concluded the development would mean electricity generated by renewable means could be stored which provided more flexibility in the system and cheaper energy.

Low carbon developments are considered as critical national policy which can outweigh protecting greenbelt in some cases.

Dudley Council said: “Despite the significant weight that needs to be afforded to the benefits of the development, there are no ‘very special circumstances’ that would outweigh the harm that would be caused to its openness, the harm associated in respect of the encroachment into the green belt and the harm associated to the quality and significance of the designated landscape heritage setting and the character and distinctiveness of the area.”

Mr Owen disagreed, in allowing the development, which would have a maximum life of 40 years, he said: “I consider the other considerations in this case clearly outweigh the harms to the green belt and the other harms that I have identified. 

“Therefore very special circumstances exist which justify the development.”