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.
