Committee to vote on another Minety battery storage facility

Councillors are set to discuss another application for a battery storage facility in Minety, a village that sits between Malmesbury and Swindon.

This application is one of eleven proposals for similar sites in the area and has raised controversy with residents.

The northern area planning committee will debate the plans at its next meeting on Wednesday, May 22.

The area has seen numerous applications for energy-based projects in recent years, including the installation of the largest storage battery in Europe and approved plans for the Minety Solar Farm, which is predicted to generate enough renewable power for 15,000 homes.

A map displaying eight of the surrounding applications. (Image: Wiltshire Council)

In February 2024, proposals for battery storage facilities near Ravensbrook Farm and Somerford Farm were refused after residents attended the planning meeting to fight their case.

The application set to be discussed at the upcoming meeting concerns land off Dog Trap Lane, to the west of Minety.

The development would have a storage capacity of c.50MW and the case officer has recommended councillors approve the scheme.

Cllr Chuck Berry, who represents the division, called for the application to be reviewed over the scale of the development, its design, its visual impact and the impact on adjoining properties.

He has requested that the “cumulative impact” of the surrounding proposals be considered by the committee.