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Friday 11th April 2025
Planning consent achieved for two large-scale BESS projects in Suffolk and Sussex
Clearstone Energy has recently secured planning consent for two large scale Battery Energy Storage System (“BESS”) projects in England. Mid Suffolk District Council approved the 300 MW / 600MWh Bramford Storage project following its Planning Committee meeting on March 26th. Horsham District Council approved the 400MW / 800MWh Great Oak Energy Hub on March 28th, following the signing of a Section 106 agreement to secure landscaping and habitat plans.
Both projects were approved following comprehensive community consultation and without any outstanding objections from either statutory consultees or local Fire and Rescue Services. With near term project energisation dates, the sites are well set to support the rapid increase in UK BESS capacity required for the UK government to deliver on its Clean Power 2030 and 2035 capacity targets.
These newly consented projects bring Clearstone Energy’s portfolio of ready-to-build UK BESS projects to 1.1GW / 2.2GWh and closes out a hugely successful 6 months for the independent, British developer. In November 2024, Field Energy acquired a 200MW / 800MWh ready-to-build BESS project near Hartlepool developed by the company. In January 2025, Clearstone Energy expanded development operations to Italy with the goal of building a 1 GW BESS project pipeline over the next two years.
“We are thrilled to receive planning consent for these projects and want to thank both Councils for their engagement and recognising the efforts of our development team to bring forward two really high quality proposals,” said Rob Garratt, Head of Development at Clearstone Energy. ”These projects are ready to build and conversations with National Grid about grid connections are already well progressed. We look forward to working with National Grid and the National Energy System Operator to find ways of bringing forward connection dates in support of Clean Power 2030”.
Bramford Storage
The 300MW 600 MWh Bramford Storage BESS project occupies an 8 hectare site, located 400 metres to the east of the existing Bramford 400kV substation in Suffolk where it will connect via underground power cable. Almost 3GW of wind generation from the East Anglia offshore wind projects will be connected to the same substation by 2030. The project has an assigned bay at Bramford substation and technical clearances with National Grid are well advanced. The contracted connection date is 2029 and, with planning consent secured, Clearstone Energy will request an accelerated connection date as part of the implementation of Clean Power 2030.
Bramford Storage is one of several energy projects at Bramford – including solar and offshore wind converter stations – so community consultation was a crucial element of the planning application. In response to feedback, Clearstone Energy updated its proposal to further minimise noise, visual and construction impacts. On-site habitat enhancements focus on connecting disparate blocks of local woodland while a new permissive footpath will extend the existing footpath network. As part of the project a £50,000 per annum community benefit scheme, focused on supporting projects in local villages, will be administered by Mid Suffolk District Council.
Great Oak Energy Hub
The 400MW / 800MWh Great Oak Energy Hub is located on the Knepp Estate in Horsham, Sussex. The Knepp Estate is renowned for its wildlife conservation work and the project has been designed in collaboration with Knepp’s experts to set new standards for delivering net zero energy projects in a sustainable manner. Drainage on the 17 hectare site will be naturalised through the use of leaky dams which will create new wetland and pond habitats. Mature oak trees on the site will be retained, while new scrub and grassland will be mob grazed by Knepp’s free-roaming, long horn cows to promote soil restoration and encourage wildlife resurgence.
Clearstone Energy undertook extensive community consultation for the project. The focus on sustainable design and new habitat creation led to high levels of support from the local community, with 73% in favour of the project, and support from the local Parish Council. Once operational the project will also provide a £50,000 per annum community benefit scheme, focused on supporting local sustainability projects.
The Great Oak Energy Hub will also connect to the 400kV transmission network on the Bolney circuit. The contracted connection date for the project is 2031, but with planning consent secured, Clearstone Energy will request an accelerated connection date as part of the implementation of Clean Power 2030.
Delivering ambitious Clean Power 2030 BESS targets
Published in December 2024, the UK Government’s Clean Power Action Plan set out regional and national technology targets required for the delivery of a low carbon UK electricity supply by 2030. BESS has a critical role to play in balancing supply and demand as electricity generation continues to transition from gas and coal power stations to wind and solar. The Clean Power Action Plan requires 27GW of operational BESS capacity in the UK in 2030 compared to an installed base of 5GW at the beginning of 2025. Large-scale, ready-to-build projects like Bramford Storage and the Great Oak Energy Hub have a key role to play in achieving this ambitious target.
About Clearstone Energy
Clearstone Energy is developing the large-scale renewable energy generation and battery storage sites needed to deliver a cleaner, lower-cost, and more secure UK energy system. Our sites are strategically located and sized to make the maximum contribution to modernising the UK’s electricity network to support the transition to low-carbon electricity, transportation, and heating. With a portfolio of 3.5 GW of transmission connected colocated solar generation and standalone battery storage projects in active development, Clearstone Energy is one of the UK’s largest independent renewable energy developers.