PLANS for a battery energy storage site in Hammerwich have been narrowly approved.
Councillors had previously deferred a decision on the scheme at land off Lions Den to allow for a site visit and other technical queries to be answered.
But a meeting of Lichfield District Council’s planning committee has now given the development the go-ahead.
Concerns had been raised by councillors over issues such as the classification of the site as grey belt land.
Cllr Serena Mears, independent member for Highfield ward, said:
“This land produces moderate yields, so it’s still classed at land that will produce a crop. When we visited it was still actively being used for grazing.
“In the planning documents they write that after the site is ceased to be used it will go back to being green belt – so they agree that it is green belt?”
But a planning officer said the applicant had been clear that the site was being considered as grey belt.
They added:
“It’s not like we are rebranding the land. We are looking at circumstances and it meets the requirements for grey belt so it’s being assessed as grey belt.”
Cllr Michael Galvin, Labour member for Summerfield and All Saints, told the meeting that the risks of any “emotional” decision to reject the scheme rather than one based on planning laws could mean the council faced a significant bill if it was later overturned by the Planning Inspector.
An officer added:
“Refusal has to be on planning grounds. If any application is overturned on appeal there could be costs against the council.”
Members eventually approved the scheme after a vote saw six members back the development, with four going against and one abstention.
I think the council should look up the definition of ‘Grey Belt Land’. This piece of land is clearly not in that category. Looks like the unelected back room staff have won again!
Look councillors, look up the definition on your ipads and tell us which parts are relevant to this application. I doubt we will be hearing from you. Incidentally none of the land in and around Lichfield is graded a high productive fertile land. Presumably it is all grey belt by your understanding.
Devastated. Have they looked at the long-term implications
Not concerned about the residents and environmental impacts, more bothered about getting a fine if the decision was overturned at a later date.
Spineless cowards.
Thank you Angela
This land is Green Belt land Grey belt is a new term only introduced last November. Its a “grey area” and our council has “rolled over” as its an easier solution that MAY have cost funds if challenged by the speculative developer.
LDC need to answer why this application was rushed through without giving resident sufficient notice to state their objections. Also it was very noticeable that LDC’s planning representative failed on several occasions to answer reasonable technical questions during the meeting, but this inadequacy was overlook by the majority of the planning committee. At both planning meeting LDC failed to provide the committee and the public full and convincing answers to the queries raised.
If Lichfield council is now going to pass anything on the grounds that an appeal may cost them money then I’m sorry to say that all is lost particularly now we have a situation whereby they can declare any land they wish as being grey belt. Just watch now as Hammerwich and Burntwood merge into one mass urban sprawl in years to come.