Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are a critical enabler of the UK’s net zero power system. The ability to store electricity generated from solar and wind when supply exceeds demand, and release it when demand exceeds supply, is fundamental to a system powered predominantly by variable renewable generation. Yet despite their importance, BESS projects have faced significant planning challenges, particularly in England, as local planning authorities and communities grapple with a technology that is relatively new and not well understood.
The planning landscape for BESS in England
BESS projects in England are assessed under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and relevant National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) provisions. The 2023 NPPF introduced a stronger presumption in favour of applications for renewable energy and low-carbon development, including energy storage, which was helpful. However, the day-to-day planning experience for BESS developers remains challenging.
Local planning authorities vary enormously in their familiarity with and attitude to BESS. Some have clear policies supporting energy storage. Others have no specific policy, and officers are left to apply general development management principles to a technology they may never have encountered before. A small number have adopted policies that are actively hostile to BESS, typically citing visual impact, landscape concerns, or fire safety.
Fire safety: the dominant planning concern
The most significant planning challenge for BESS in recent years has been fire safety. A number of high-profile BESS fires internationally — including at installations in the US, South Korea and Australia — have generated significant community concern about the safety of battery installations in the UK. Several large BESS planning applications have been refused or substantially delayed by local planning authorities citing fire safety concerns, often despite the applicant having submitted detailed fire risk assessments prepared by specialist fire engineers.
The publication of BS EN IEC 62933-5-2 and guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council has helped to establish a clearer framework for fire risk assessment for grid-scale BESS. The key is to engage with fire safety at the pre-application stage, involve the local fire and rescue service early, and provide a detailed, site-specific fire risk assessment and emergency response plan as part of the planning application.
Our BESS planning experience
CPP has supported BESS projects through the planning process across multiple sites in England and Scotland. Our approach prioritises early pre-application engagement with the local planning authority, thorough environmental assessment, proactive community engagement, and the preparation of clear, accessible documentation that addresses community concerns directly. Contact us to discuss how we can support your BESS project through planning.