Council officers have made their recommendation on a proposed 181-unit battery energy storage project that garnered 2,655 objections.

Undeveloped green belt land between Elstree Substation, near Bushey, and the Bhaktivedanta Manor, would be filled with the battery storage containers as well as 58 inverter units.

This was cut from 400 and 101 respectively during the planning process, but despite the reduction Hertsmere Borough Council planning officers have recommended that permission should be refused.

The report, attached to the agenda for Thursday’s planning committee meeting where councillors will make their final ruling, gives green belt concerns as the sole planning reason.

It says: “A case for very special circumstances has been made by the applicant, outlining a number of benefits of the scheme.

Design showing the updated proposal. (Image: Hertsmere Borough Council planning portal/M2 Planning) “However, officers consider that these benefits when taken together are insufficient to outweigh the substantial harm to the green belt, by virtue of inappropriateness and due to the significant harm to openness that would arise, in addition to the harm to visual character and heritage assets.”

Reasons given for the many objections from the public included the loss of green belt, but also noise, views, fire risk, highway access, wildlife, proximity to Bhaktivedanta Manor and Elstree Aerodrome, rights of way, and potential hazardous substances.

Illustrative layout of the scheme as initially proposed. (Image: Hertsmere Borough Council planning portal/M2 Planning)

Chiltern Green Energy acknowledged that residents “and many connected with Bhaktivedanta Manor from around the world” have raised concerns.

It said that, in response, the application in its updated form is supported by documents that address the matters raised and amendments have been made in response to feedback.

According to proposal documents: “BESS are devices that enable energy, including from sources such as solar and wind, to be stored and then released when the power is needed most.”

This helps renewable sources of energy keep powering homes “even when the sun isn’t shining, or the wind has stopped blowing”.

Six public comments were made in support of the application.

According to Chiltern Green Energy: “Whilst it was initially necessary to propose approximately 400 batteries to manage the 400MW capacity of the site, improved battery technology has meant that the same capacity can now be managed by less than 200 batteries.”