Neo Environmental were involved in various stages of the 49.9MW Mannington Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) from initial constraint analysis and site suitability assessment to planning and condition compliance.

The Energy Storage Facility is located in Greenbelt in Dorset and our planning team successfully argued a case for Very Special Circumstances (VSC) for the project. The VSC report concluded that the overall strategic performance and function of the remaining Green Belt would prevail, with the benefits of the Proposed Development considerably outweighing the minor adverse impacts identified.

Our team undertook and compiled various planning and environmental assessments and reports including ecology, landscape, archaeology & heritage, noise, arboriculture, traffic and transportation and hydrology (flood risk & drainage). As part of their fieldwork, our ecologists conducted bat surveys surveys in support of the Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) and also conducted a Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA).

East Dorset Council provided an excellent service given the current circumstances relating to COVID-19; the planning application was consented with no pre-commencement conditions attached. We look forward to seeing the completed development in due course.