Residents of Southfleet rejoice after Dartford council denies EcoDev’s energy storage project on green belt land
Southfleet: Villagers are over the moon after winning a planning fight against a proposed energy storage plant. The plans aimed to build a massive facility on 10 acres of farmland, and locals were not having it.
EcoDev wanted to set up a Battery Energy Storage System off Foxhounds Lane, which would have been around for 40 years. The site was right at the corner of Foxhounds Lane and Park Corner Road.
They planned to install 140 battery units, inverters, transformers, and a substation on land between Southfleet, Betsham, and the A2. It was supposed to power over 124,000 homes, acting as a backup for the National Grid.
The idea was to charge the batteries when there was extra power and send it back to the grid when needed. EcoDev argued that this was crucial for the UK’s energy needs.
But Dartford council’s planning officers said no way. They felt the project would harm the green belt and didn’t meet the special circumstances needed for such a development.
They pointed out that the amount of industrial equipment would ruin the openness of the green belt, which is meant to protect the countryside.
Lyn Carter, a local resident, was thrilled about the decision. She had serious concerns about losing agricultural land and the impact on wildlife. She said, “I’m absolutely delighted and relieved. It would have been so damaging to the whole environment.”
Despite the win, she knows this isn’t the end. “We might have won this little battle, but it’s just a battle, not the war,” she added, highlighting that similar projects could still pop up.
Some folks did support EcoDev’s plans, arguing that we need to use the green belt for energy projects. But many locals are just happy to see this one turned down.
In November, there were other plans for an energy storage facility nearby, but the council leader believes these projects should be in urban areas, not on farmland.
Overall, it’s a big win for the community, but they’re keeping their eyes peeled for what might come next.
