Developers planning a new battery storage facility in the countryside say the benefits outweigh the harm of it being in the green belt. 

Renewable Connections Developments Limited wants to build the facility at the Oxford South Depot in Woodstock Road in Yarnton.

The developer says that it would have the capacity for 52MW of electricity storage and will be operational for up to 40 years.

After this, it will be removed and the land will be returned to its former use. 

The application has been submitted to Cherwell District Council. 

READ MORE: Japanese knotweed hotspots in Oxfordshire revealed

Battery storage plans for Yarnton​ (Image: Cherwell District Council) The scheme would include 12 battery containers, six PCS units, a customer substation inside a single container structure, spare parts container, one auxiliary transformer, a DNO control building, internal access roads and infrastructure, two parking spaces, 2.1m high weld mesh fencing and CCTV. 

In its planning statement, the developer weighs up the benefits and harms of the facility being on the green belt. 

It said: “It is considered that the benefits identified above attract very significant weight in favour of the scheme and are of sufficient magnitude to outweigh the harm to the Green Belt.

“The benefits identified attract very significant weight in favour of the scheme. These are of sufficient magnitude to outweigh the substantial harm found to the site’s potential future green belt designation. 

“In this context, the harm to the green belt would be clearly outweighed by the other considerations identified and therefore the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development exist. 

“A BESS proposal would constitute inappropriate development in the green belt. It would also cause harm to openness and would fail to meet one of the purposes of the green belt. These factors all carry substantial weight. 

“There would also be some harm to the character and appearance of the area, but the significant planting proposed would provide some mitigation.

“Balanced against is the fact the provision of the infrastructure and its benefits weigh substantially in favour of the proposal, particularly in terms of contributing towards the government’s intention to move to a low carbon and renewable energy network and to meet net zero targets. Added to this are the benefits to biodiversity, and a modest benefit to the local economy.”

It added: “Overall, the national policy other considerations in this case clearly outweigh the harms to the green belt and the other harms identified.

"Therefore, very special circumstances would exist which would justify the development in this location.”

The application has had no comments in support or objection so far. 

Help support trusted local news 

Sign up for a digital subscription now: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe/

As a digital subscriber you will get:      

  • Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website   
  • Advert-light access       
  • Reader rewards       
  • Full access to our app

About the author  

Toby is a senior reporter who has a particular interest in covering planning and local government. 

He joined in September 2024 having been a reporter at the Hampshire Chronicle for three years. 

Toby studied at the University of Brighton and can be found on X through the handle @JournoToby