A proposed battery energy storage plant in Swindon, Staffordshire, has been approved by the local council’s planning committee, despite opposition from residents and councillors. The facility, to be built on green belt land on Hinksford Lane, aims to provide power to over 26,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by 18,000 tonnes annually. However, several objectors, including local MP Mike Wood and four Dudley councillors, raised concerns about the potential risks of fire and impact on wildlife.
Concerns were voiced about the risk of a fire at the facility spreading to nearby residential areas, including a mobile home park, as well as the potential harm to local wildlife. One objector, Gordon Fanthom, described the proposal as a “danger to human life, property, wildlife, and existing infrastructure”. Another, Roger Lees, a ward councillor, expressed concerns about the impact on the openness of the green belt land.
Despite these objections, the applicant, Daniel Levy, argued that the site had been carefully selected due to its proximity to a substation and that developers had worked closely with Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service to ensure the facility met their requirements. The development is expected to reduce the region’s reliance on fossil fuels and contribute to the fight against climate change.
The planning committee ultimately voted to approve the application, but not without acknowledging the concerns raised by objectors. The facility is expected to be a significant step forward in the region’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, but the controversy surrounding the project highlights the complex and often contentious nature of such developments.