Bexley Council recently made a decision to refuse planning permission for a BESS scheme from Firstway Energy. However, the company responded saying they were planning to appeal. We want to have a closer look here. Then, if you’re thinking about buying assets and want to explore guaranteed rent in Bexley, we’d love to help.

The plans

Firstway Energy is one of the UK’s leaders in renewable energy solutions, including solar farms. They’re doing a lot of work to install battery energy storage systems (BESS). They work to store energy during periods of low demand, to then release it later when people need more energy. It helps protect the grid and support greener energy.

The plans for Bexley were to build a new BESS in Sidcup. The site is green land off North Cray Road. Notably, the facility would be the size of 10 football pitches. Critically though, the 200 megawatt capacity would be sufficient to provide power to over 640,000 homes.

Controversy

There had been several rounds of consultation about the project, and over 600 representations (including for and against). Firstway Energy was expecting the plans to progress and go before the Council’s Planning Committee for consideration. In fact, they claim a planning officer told them they were likely to give a recommendation for approval.

However, last month Bexley Council refused permission. The planning officers said their finding was that the BESS would cause “significant harm” to the area because of the rural landscape. Ultimately, after comparing to planning policy, they said the plans are calling for inappropriate green belt development.

With the officers voting not to give approval, the plans did not even make it to the Planning Committee. Bexley Council said this is the standard practice; only plans that pass the scrutiny stage come up for discussion. It’s a good idea to consider this if you’re thinking of any kind of development. We also suggest you look at things like guaranteed rent in Bexley.

The response

In a statement after the announcement, Firstway Energy said they were “blindsided” by the decision. They are now planning to appeal, and bullishly expect to win. In fact, they are warning they will claim the cost of appealing from the council, potentially leaving them with a massive bill to pay.

Additionally, Firstway Energy is planning a second project in Bexley at Dartford Road. They are requesting the council actively engage with them about these plans to avoid a repeat of the refusal at Sidcup. Crucially, they urge the plans to go before the Planning Committee to explore the benefits of the BESS.

Talk to us about guaranteed rent in Bexley

It’s important that investors keep an eye on different kinds of developments in the areas they target. They can have significant impacts on property values and demand. As a result, it is best to be proactive and monitor everything. This way you won’t miss opportunities or fail to see potential threats coming.

If you are an investor and want some help, we’d be happy to work with you. We can provide flexible services to suit any needs, including finding new potential assets and reviewing portfolios. More importantly, we’re one of the most knowledgeable experts when it comes to guaranteed rent in Bexley and other parts of the city. It’s a solution we always recommend because it is convenient and ensures financial stability.

So, get in touch today to learn more.