Trafford council's attempt to block a battery storage scheme on Green Belt land in Carrington has been defeated. A planning inspector has upheld an appeal by O&G Solar, also known as Voltis, ruling that the 0.9-acre site at Wild Fowl Farm north of Carrington aligns with Labour's new 'grey belt' land designation criteria.
This means Voltis is now permitted to construct a 35 mega watt storage facility, designed to store surplus energy during periods of low demand and return it to the grid when demand surges. Trafford's planners had previously rejected the scheme in August 2024, citing it as 'inappropriate development in the Green Belt' and criticising its potential negative impact on the area's character and appearance.
However, Inspector Gareth Thomas noted that since the council's decision, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which guides local planning authorities, was updated in December by the new Labour Government. "This update includes the concept of grey belt land," he stated in his findings, defining 'grey belt' as 'comprising previously developed land'.
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He further explained that Wild Fowl Farm is 'comparatively limited in size and relatively remote from any large built-up areas'. "For these reasons, the appeal site contributes only marginally to helping provide a barrier between Urmston 520 metres to the north and Sale, some 1.2 kilometres to the south," Mr Thomas concluded.
In his report, Mr. Thomas stated that the Voltis development would not contribute to preventing urban sprawl, saying: "I do not believe that any part of the site would be important in preventing the unrestricted sprawl of such areas."
He further noted that the project aligns with Trafford council's sustainability goals, adding: "I have found that the proposed development would utilise grey belt land and would not amount to inappropriate development in the Green Belt."
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