Battery energy storage site plans return and this week’s other applications

Plans for a battery energy storage site on land at a Staffordshire Moorlands farm have come forward – just months after a previous application was rejected.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council refused permission for the development on land at Newlands Farm, Wetley Rocks, in September after it was considered inappropriate development in the Green Belt.

The refusal notice decision added: “There are also concerns regarding the overall cumulative effect of similar development in the area and the industrialisation of the landscape, increased risk of a safety incident in a localised area and wider environmental implications. The development would be prominent to the users of the adjacent public right of way, due to insufficient landscaping and lack of information regarding maintenance arrangements for existing and proposed vegetation, and would have a harmful effect on the visual amenities of the countryside.

A new application has now been submitted to the authority by Newfields BESS Limited.

A transport and access statement submitted as part of the application said: “The proposed development will consist of an enclosed compound area containing a BESS comprising 14 blocks of battery cabinets, supported by electrical infrastructure such as inverters, transformers, control buildings and substations. The battery storage units, along with associated infrastructure, equipment, and fencing, would be removed and the land returned to its current use after 40 years.

“Due to the nature of the proposals, the impact on the highway will be temporary, attributed to construction vehicle movements required during the construction and decommissioning phases. During its operation, only a small number of vehicles (LGV’s) will frequent the site for scheduled maintenance and servicing.”

Natural England has raised no objections to the latest proposals. But Lisa Fox from Werrington said the proposals were an “eye sore, bad for wildlife (and) dangerous for residents”.

Diane Rowley said: “I am still very concerned about the safety of BESS – in particular the fire risk. If this happens it will be a disaster for the residents in the surrounding area.”

Listed below are planning applications published online by councils in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire during the past fortnight.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council

71784/PRA: Installation of 822 roof mounted solar PV panels (prior approval) at VWS (UK) Ltd, Whittle Road, Meir, ST3 7QD

71785/FUL: Single storey rear extension and elevational alterations to the side at 6 Cotton Road, Sandyford, ST6 5QB

71772/TPO: Works to lime tree (T4) in front garden including crown lifting to 5.1m over highway and 3.1m over footpath (Statutory highway clearance), dead wooding, (major and minor) epicormic removal, 15% thinning to allow more light into property, removal of branches immediately surrounding and reducing streetlight function by creating shadow areas on the footpath (TPO – Tree Preservation Order – 76) at 2 Acorn Rise, Lightwood, ST3 7YP

71764/FUL: Two storey side extension at 25 Abbots Road, Abbey Hulton, ST2 8DU

71767/OUT: Outline planning permission for residential development with all matters reserved on land adjacent to 2 Watery Lane, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 4QY

71770/NOT: Installation of one wooden pole at 1 Ripon Road, Blurton, ST3 3BS

71748/FUL: Two storey side extension, single storey front extension, first floor rear extension and elevation alteration at Ken-Dor, 6 Jack Haye Lane, Milton, ST2 7NG

71724/VAR: Variation of condition 10 of permission 67003/FUL (change of use of land to storage and distribution (use class B8) and associated erection of new building, formation of concrete hard standing for trailer parking/storage and erection of new entrance gates and fence) at former Severn Trent Depot, land at Uttoxeter Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 6HE

71716/FUL: Single storey side and single storey rear extensions at 20 Quarry Avenue, Hartshill, ST4 7EP

71708/FUL: Elevation alterations to include new shop front and door for access to first floor at 98 Waterloo Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 3EX

71647/VAR: Variation of Condition 2 to allow the sale of charity items (including clothing, furniture, and household goods) to visiting members of the public of planning permission SOT/25987 at Carpetright, Etruria Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 5NH

71586/VAR: Variation of condition 2 (approved plans) and condition 9 (hours of operation) of permission 67662/FUL (selective demolition, reconfiguration and external alterations to retained buildings to provide 10 Use Class B2 and B8 units including ancillary trade counters and changes to car parking layout and associated works) at 200 Scotia Road, Burslem, ST6 4JD

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

SMD/2024/0556: Development of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with ancillary infrastructure, security fence, access, landscaping and biodiversity enhancements, to provide balancing services to the local electricity grid on land at Newfields Farm, Rownall Road, Wetley Rocks, ST9 0BS

NMA/2025/0003: Non Material Amendment in relation to SMD/2024/017 (extension and refurbishment of existing leisure centre including new swimming pools, extended fitness gym and associated parking) Conditions 7 and 15 at Brough Park Leisure Centre, Ball Haye Road, Leek, ST13 6AT

DET/2025/0002: Application to determine if prior approval is needed for a proposed change of use of agricultural building to form one dwellinghouse and associated building operations at Tompkin Head Farm, Tompkin Road, Stanley, ST9 9NA

CON/2025/0005: Consultation from Peak District National Park: Proposed agricultural building to house and feed livestock at Upper Green House, Green Lane, Calton, ST10 3LA

SMD/2024/0549: Two bed bungalow with hipped roof on land east of 200 Armshead Road, Werrington

SMD/2025/0062: Listed Building Consent for internal alterations to southeast ground floor rooms of original three-storey main block front range to create a ‘talking therapy’ consultancy facility at Leek Moorlands Hospital, Ashbourne Road, Leek, ST13 5BQ

SMD/2025/0040: Proposed garage conversion, extension and alterations at 1 Grange Court, Biddulph, ST8 6RX

SMD/2025/0031: Application for 10 glamping pods and biomass building (retrospective) at Quarry Walk Caravan Park, Coppice Lane, Winnothdale, ST10 1RQ

SMD/2024/0581: Certificate of Lawfulness proposed new lean-to PVC conservatory to be fitted to the rear of the property at 80 Rownlea, Washerwall Lane, Werrington, ST9 0LR

DOC/2025/0006: Discharge of Condition 6 in relation to SMD/2024/0323 (removal of existing attached garage. Proposed side and rear elevation extension. Widening of existing vehicular access. Enlargement of existing front parking area. Proposed double garage in rear garden including driveway) at 165 Tean Road, Cheadle, ST10 1LS

SMD/2025/0047: Extension of existing farm lean to building to create farm store at Little Lymford Farm, Tunstall Road, Bosley, SK11 0PB

SMD/2024/0575: Proposed single storey extension and alterations to existing dwelling at Wuthering Heights, Back Lane, Heaton, Rushton Spencer, SK11 0SH