The Strategic Sites Committee of Buckinghamshire Council met on Thursday 2 July 2026 to discuss a proposal for a Greener Grid Park at Land North of East Claydon Substation. The committee resolved to delegate the decision for approval of the application to the Director of Planning, Growth and Sustainability, subject to conditions, with seven votes in favour and three against.

Greener Grid Park at East Claydon Substation

The committee considered an application for the construction of a Greener Grid Park, comprising a battery energy storage system (BESS), synchronous compensators, and associated infrastructure, on land north of the East Claydon Substation. The proposal, put forward by Statkraft UK Ltd, aims to store electricity and balance the national grid, supporting the transition to renewable energy.

The application was called in by local councillors due to its scale, complexity, and potential impact on the local community and environment. Numerous representations were received, with a significant number objecting to the proposal.

Key discussions and concerns raised included:

• Need for the Development: Objectors questioned the necessity of the scheme, citing existing and approved BESS capacity exceeding government targets and the lack of a confirmed grid connection date, which is dependent on the construction of a new National Grid substation. The applicant countered that national policy, particularly the updated Energy National Policy Statements (EN-1 and EN-3), establishes an urgent and enduring need for such infrastructure to support net-zero targets and grid resilience, and that 2030 targets are milestones, not caps.
• Landscape and Visual Impact: Concerns were raised about the industrialisation of the rural landscape, the scale of the development, and its visual prominence from nearby residential properties, public rights of way, and local roads. Objectors argued that mitigation measures, such as bunding and planting, would be insufficient and that the cumulative impact with other proposed energy infrastructure would significantly alter the character of the Claydon Valley. The Landscape Officer also raised significant concerns, noting that the proposal would not fully respect the existing landscape character.
• Traffic and Highways: Significant objections were lodged regarding the impact of construction traffic on local roads, particularly through Winslow and on narrow country lanes. Concerns included the volume of HGVs, safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and equestrians, damage to road surfaces, and the cumulative impact with other major infrastructure projects like HS2 and East West Rail. The Highway Authority raised no objection, subject to conditions, stating that impacts would be temporary and manageable through a Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP).
• Fire Safety and Risk: A major concern for objectors was the inherent risk of fire associated with BESS technology, citing international and recent UK incidents. Concerns included the difficulty of extinguishing lithium-ion battery fires, the release of toxic fumes, contamination of land and watercourses, and inadequate site access for emergency services. The applicant presented a comprehensive Fire Safety Strategy, supported by an independent review, which concluded that risks could be managed to an acceptable level through design and operational measures, with Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service raising no objection in principle, subject to further planning and emergency response plans.
• Ecology and Biodiversity: Objections highlighted the ecological value of the site and surrounding area, including concerns about impacts on protected species such as bats, barn owls, and skylarks. Concerns were also raised about the adequacy of ecological surveys and the deliverability of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) proposals. The Council's Ecologist raised no objection, subject to conditions, confirming that BNG targets could be met and that appropriate mitigation and enhancement measures would be secured.
• Noise and Residential Amenity: Residents expressed concerns about operational noise from plant and equipment, particularly at night, and the impact of construction noise. The Environmental Health Officer raised no objection, subject to conditions securing noise mitigation measures, including acoustic fencing and bunding, stating that impacts could be reduced to acceptable levels.
• Cumulative Impacts: A significant theme throughout the objections was the cumulative impact of multiple energy infrastructure projects in the area, including solar farms, other BESS proposals, and the planned National Grid substation. Objectors argued that this concentration of infrastructure would industrialise the countryside and overwhelm local capacity. The ES included an assessment of cumulative effects, primarily focusing on landscape and visual impacts, and concluded that while some cumulative landscape harm was identified, it was not considered to outweigh the benefits of the scheme.
• Heritage and Archaeology: Archaeological investigations revealed evidence of potential Roman activity, including a possible Roman road and settlement. A condition requiring a programme of archaeological work was recommended to mitigate impacts. Harm to the setting of nearby listed buildings was considered to be less than substantial and outweighed by the public benefits of the scheme.

Decision:

Following extensive debate and technical questioning, the committee voted to approve the application, delegating the final decision to the Director of Planning, Growth and Sustainability, subject to conditions. The vote was seven in favour and three against. The approved conditions aim to address concerns regarding construction traffic management, noise control, fire safety, landscaping, biodiversity net gain, and site restoration.