Battery site plan blocked after 1,000 objections
Harmony Energy faced renewed opposition to proposals for the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on land off Newton Lane, between Ledston and Allerton Bywater near Leeds.
Harmony said the development would help tackle climate change and stabilise energy supplies by storing electricity for future use.
Leeds City Council planning panel members passed a motion not to accept a recommendation from council officers to approve the application.
'Green belt harm'
Earlier this month, more than 1,200 residents, along with MPs and councillors, objected to other proposals by Harmony to install 72 containers storing lithium ion batteries on farmland at Heath near Wakefield.
Leeds City Council initially refused planning permission for the Allerton Bywater proposals in November 2023 after environmental and fire safety fears were raised, along with the impact on green belt land.
A plans panel was told national planning policy changes meant the site could now be downgraded to "grey belt" – deemed less environmentally important.
But that was disputed by action group Save our Villages and council leader James Lewis, who represents Kippax and Methley.
Lewis told the panel: "I don't believe this site is grey belt and therefore the harm to green belt, which this site is, should be a reason for refusal."
Objector Adrian Appleyard said a fire at the site could see contaminated water run off in to Fairburn Ings Nature Reserve, 400m away, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Harmony's Tessa Fletcher said the company had an excellent safety record and the BESS would have the capacity to power thousands of homes.
She said: "As a nation we are legally bound to reduce carbon emissions and must do so at pace."
A final decision will be made after a report is drawn up on detailed reasons for refusal and the chances of losing an appeal.
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
More than 1,000 objections to battery storage sites
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