Enso’s application for the Crabtree Lane Energy hub development, including a 1GW Battery Energy Storage development has been approved by the Bassetlaw District Council.
This important milestone for a very significant development in the Enso portfolio prompted a moment of reflection on what the team at Enso have achieved in recent years, both the success we have enjoyed and challenges we have faced as developers of renewable energy projects.
Looking at what we have achieved, since 2020, Enso have:
· Submitted planning applications for 36 solar and/or battery projects, with a combined installed capacity in excess of 5GW
· 26 of these applications have been successful and planning permission granted – bringing forward over 3.5GW of renewable energy development
· six applications are currently being assessed and determined by the relevant planning authorities, while only four applications have been unsuccessful.
Our success in developing sites that achieve this important milestone in the development process is testament to the collaborative way we work at Enso. In order to successfully develop projects, it is critical that all aspects of the development are aligned and working towards the same goals. Successful planning applications are a result of good site selection, iterative design and collaborative teamwork as the issues, risks and opportunities of each site unfold as the development progresses.
The planning process is not an exact science, and success is never guaranteed. However, well-considered sites that respond to the feedback from consultees and stakeholders will have a better success rate than those that fail to satisfactorily address concerns that are raised through the development of the site.
Local politics can be an issue for applications that are decided at a local level. We have had to appeal a number of planning application refusals, most of which have then been approved by the Planning Inspectorate. Having an application refused by a Planning Committee against the recommendation of trained and qualified planning specialists is never easy to accept, and while it can be frustrating when this happens, adding significant cost and time to the development of a project, it is some consolation that most of the time (86% for the Enso team!) we do get the approval required and the project can progress – furthering our aim to increase the amount of renewable energy generated in the UK as we strive towards a cleaner energy system.