West Yorkshire Battery Storage Plans Recommended Despite Safety, Local Objections

Plans to build battery energy storage systems (BESS) near West Yorkshire villages, including Heath and Wilsden, have faced significant opposition due to concerns over fire risks, impacts on green belt land, and effects on local conservation areas. Despite over 1,200 objections to the Heath site and hundreds of objections to the Wilsden site, council planning officers recommended approval, citing the projects' contributions to net zero goals and energy security. Applicants, such as Harmony Energy and Net Zero Twenty Three Limited, emphasized the importance of battery storage in supporting renewable energy integration and noted the presence of numerous similar sites safely operating in the UK. Safety concerns were acknowledged, including difficulties for fire services accessing sites, but no formal objections were raised by emergency services. Local campaigners criticized the projects as industrial developments rather than renewable energy sources, highlighting community opposition and cultural heritage impacts. Ultimately, councils prioritized the environmental benefits and strategic importance of these BESS projects over local objections and potential risks.