Plans for energy storage in a town were refused due to concerns it would be a ‘big, ugly box’.
On Wednesday, members of West Suffolk’s development control committee met to discuss AMP Clean Energy’s bid for a new ‘battery box’ within the Lark Grange development south of Mount Road, in Bury St Edmunds.
The box would save up to 160 tonnes of carbon each year over 30 years and power 200 homes for up to four hours in cases of supply disruption in the area.
Planning officers and councillors said although it would bring climate benefits, the plans would erode the landscape and be detrimental to the street scene, causing significant visual harm. Picture: Google
But planning officers and councillors said although it would bring climate benefits, the plans would erode the landscape and be detrimental to the street scene, causing significant visual harm.
Cllr Sara Mildmay-White said: “This is a particularly obtrusive, unattractive block right next to a well-used cycle path and bus station.”
Cllr Susan Glossop added: “If it is going to go there, it’s got to be concealed, it’s just such a big, ugly box — we’re meddling and we’re cluttering up our country.”
The box would save up to 160 tonnes of carbon each year over 30 years and power 200 homes for up to four hours in cases of supply disruption in the area. Picture: AMP Clean Energy
Addressing the concerns, Ben Wallace, head of development at AMP Clean Energy, said if the council was serious about its climate commitments, it should ‘think very hard’ about whether it should refuse such projects.
He added: “The fact is, if we are serious about net zero, we’ve got to start acting now.
“Perhaps in this instance, this small reduction in visual impact for a blink of an eye is perhaps not a reason to refuse such an important project.”
Committee members were split on this issue, with several believing the benefits outweighed the potential visual harm and safety concerns.
Cllr Lora-Jane Miller-Jones, who recommended the plans to be approved contrary to officers’ recommendations, said: “I don’t agree that the visual impact is a big deal, especially compared to all the policies that say we should be doing things to reduce carbon.”
Cllr Ian Houlder added: “If it’s that dangerous busy road, you wouldn’t actually put a bus shelter where kids are going to get mowed down by a lorry would you.”
After a failed motion to approve the plans, members turned the battery box down with nine votes for and seven against.