Controversial battery plant near M65 approved on appeal

In April, Hyndburn Council’s planning committee rejected the application by Root-Power (North) to build the complex close to the M65 and Lottice Brook, not far from the Blackburn with Darwen borough border.

The decision followed a former firefighter's warning the meeting of the danger of explosions.

The committee had ruled the Salford-based firm’s application to build the 60-megawatt Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on land at Knuzden Moss Farm off Stanhill Road was unsuitable for wooded protected ‘Green Belt’ countryside.

Work on the scheme - which includes 14 battery clusters and seven transformers – is due to start in mid-2027, and it is scheduled to go live in 2028.

The meeting had overturned a recommendation by planning manager Adam Birkett that it be approved with 21 conditions, including a time limit of 40 years.

The committee voted by eight to two to reject the plan.

But now planning inspector L N Hughes has granted Root-Power (North)’s appeal against the decision allowing the project to go ahead with 18 conditions, including the 40-year time limit.

The inspector’s decision says: “The proposal would not be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, and subject to the imposition of appropriate conditions, no undue harm would be caused for any other reason.

“Therefore, the appeal is allowed.

“The site lies near the outskirts of Blackburn to the west, and to Stanhill/Oswaldtwistle to the east, which form the outskirts of Accrington.

“The site is therefore near to these large built-up areas, including the ribbon of development along Stanhill Road, but is physically and visually discrete from them.

“The M65 provides a major definitive physical feature to Blackburn in reasonable proximity, and the site is subject to other urbanising influences of the tall electricity pylons, and the dwellings and equestrian buildings to the north.

“It would not form an incongruous pattern of development in conjunction with this existing built form, beyond development on the site itself.

“I therefore find the land does not strongly contribute to the Green Belt purpose.

“Again, although the site lies between urban areas at relatively close range, the narrowest section of this Green Belt gap lies to the north of Stanhill Road.

“The gap around the proposed BESS compound part of the appeal site is much wider.

“The appeal site forms a small part of this.

“The existing woodlands and proposed planting would assist in maintaining the visual separation and perception of the gap.

“I find that this gap would not be significantly eroded or result in visual coalescence of the towns as a result of the BESS, and therefore the appeal site does not strongly contribute to the Green Belt purpose.

“In making this judgement, I am conscious that although a 40-year operational period would have a generational impact, this lack of permanence would, to a limited extent, temper the extent of any effect on the Green Belt.

“Given the relative scale of the proposed BESS, and its limited visibility and clear separation from the main urban form, I find that it would not fundamentally undermine the purposes of the remaining Green Belt land with regard to safeguarding the countryside from encroachment.

“The proposal would be well contained by existing landscape features, particularly the existing and proposed enclosing woodland.

“Concerns were raised by interested parties about fire safety, including fears of fire incidents affecting the surrounding neighbourhood, schools, and the nearby Brookside Project.

“The Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service consultation response raised no objections based on the Outline Battery Safety Management Plan.

“I find matters of fire safety to have been satisfactorily addressed, subject to the imposition of relevant conditions.”

Neil Brooks, managing director of Root-Power, said: “We are pleased that the planning inspector has approved our appeal following initial refusal at committee, despite the planning officer’s recommendation for approval, and we are looking forward to starting work on the site.

“This planning application is among the first batch to be approved on the basis of the development being on 'greybelt' land.

“The recognition of greybelt as a legitimate planning consideration for decision makers will undoubtedly support the roll out of energy infrastructure across the UK as we transition to net-zero.”

Louise Leyland from PWA planning, representing Root-Power, had told the April meeting the BESS proposal was entirely safe and vital to ensuring the reliable supply of renewable electricity to the National Grid.

But Stanhill Village Community Association chair Andy Barnes told the meeting: “As a former firefighter, I understand how the risk for fire and explosion has the potential to cause serious harm to people and the environment.

“The composition of such batteries means that in a fire situation, thermal runaway can occur, making them almost impossible to extinguish.”