Plans to construct a battery energy storage facility covering 3.6 hectares (8.9 acres) near Holsworthy have been rejected by Torridge District Council. The councilors prioritized the preservation of green fields and farmland at Pyworthy, expressing concerns about the cumulative impact of the proposed facility, which would have been the 17th renewable energy project within a five-mile radius.
The application, submitted by RES Ltd, included proposals for planting hedgerows to screen the site and enhance biodiversity. However, Councillor Kit Hepple described the project as “huge” and raised safety concerns regarding potential fire hazards. He advocated for smaller-scale applications that would have less impact on the countryside.
Despite support for the project from Councillor Rosemary Lock—who noted the absence of objections from local authorities, including Pyworthy Parish Council and Natural England—the planning committee ultimately voted against the proposal.
The decision went against the advice of planning officers, with the vote tallying six against two.
The hearing highlighted the ongoing tension between renewable energy development and environmental conservation in the region.
