A CONTENTIOUS planning application to build a large battery store near Charlcutt has been rejected by Wiltshire councillors.

The scheme, from Green Hedge Energy Barn Ltd for Hill Field Farm, was unanimously refused after councillors agreed that it contravened core policy on a number of fronts.

"I called this application to committee mainly due to concerns about damage to a beautiful landscape," said Coun Christine Crisp. "When viewed from Calne, Charlcutt Ridge is prominent on the skyline and the landscaping planned would offer little screening during the 25-year lifetime of an installation which even the applicant’s website suggests should be located in an industrial environment. Local concern over this application was high enough to justify a public debate on the issue."

The proposals faced stark criticism from the surrounding parishes. Ian James, of Bremhill Parish Council, spoke at the northern area planning meeting in Chippenham last Wednesday to criticise the application in light of the Neighbourhood Plan.

He said afterwards: "It was an important decision for the parish, and one where I believe the Neighbourhood Plan influenced the planning decision, and as the Localism Act intended gives the community a say in our development in the parish."

The barn, which would store excess energy from the local grid and release it during times of need, antagonised residents in the surrounding area after concerns were raised about the fire hazards the stored lithium-ion batteries would hold.

Sandy Thwaites, of the Charlcutt Ridge Action Group, said: "The committee objected unanimously to the planning application to locate a large-scale industrial energy storage unit in beautiful countryside adjacent to Charlcutt Ridge.

"Whilst we support genuinely renewable energy developments we could not see that this – of itself – was one, and we are adamant that it was a totally inappropriate location. If allowed to go ahead, it would have set such a dangerous national precedent to allow industrial buildings in open countryside.

"We are relieved and delighted that all the councillors were able to vote in favour of logic over process and would like to thank them for listening to our community concerns and in particular our own councillor, Christine Crisp and parish councillor Ian James, for voicing them."

Although the application has been refused Green Hedge Energy Barn Ltd has six weeks to consider appealing against the decision.