Devon CPRE is backing residents around the rural hamlet of Hawkchurch in East Devon, who are urgently raising a battle chest to resist two large Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at two Public Inquiries, the first of which starts on Tuesday, 10 March.
Hawkchurch lies close to both the West Dorset and Somerset county boundaries and appears to be favoured by developers of power projects because of its relative proximity to the Axminster Substation. BESS consist of large metal containers with batteries, set in rows on concrete.
The developers of two huge BESS proposals near Blackpool Corner and Raymonds Hill – Hazelhurst (300MWh, Planning reference 24/0096/MFUL) and Newlands (80MW, Ref. 24/2650/MFUL) – have appealed against East Devon District Council’s refusals of their schemes. The Hazelhurst site would be the size of a factory and cabling would be dug along the B3165.
The Hawkchurch and Monkton Wyld Action Group (HMWAG) has instructed a team of experts and a barrister for both Appeals. They are particularly concerned about the high risk that any fire represents and the ensuing contamination of water supplies, as the sites are located above an important aquifer which many households and farms rely on as their sole source of drinking water.
Hawkchurch and Monkton Wyld Action Group has successfully fought two Appeals by developers against BESS proposals – Pound Road in 2023 and Pound Farm in 2025. Pound Road was funded by the generosity of one local hero, Pound Farm also with contributions from local residents.
Now Devon CPRE, the only local charity that protects the countryside from inappropriate development, is helping the Action Group to raise awareness of the dangers of Battery Energy Storage Systems and promote its Go Fund Me page to support its defence against the developers’ Appeals.
Both organisations are urging people to attend the Public Inquiry next week for the Hazelhurst scheme, which will be held in East Devon District Council’s offices at Blackdown House on Honiton’s Heathpark Industrial Estate. The Inquiry is scheduled to begin at 10am on Tuesday, 10 March, and is anticipated to sit for up to a week (excluding weekends and not on Monday, 16 March).
Cllr Moe Dodson of Hawkchurch Parish Council says, “There were three BESS fires in the UK last year, a significant number considering how few sites are operational. The Parish Council carried out a survey of residents to draw up our Neighbourhood Plan. One of the survey questions was about large-scale lithium battery schemes and 98% of respondents said they didn’t want them in the local area because of the significant risks, including the threat to the important aquifer which is the sole water source to many surrounding farms and homes.”
Karen Goaman of HMWAG says, “We are resisting these two BESS schemes with everything we’ve got; we have no alternative because of the threats they pose to the environment, residents and visitors to the area, not to mention the industrialisation of the rural landscape and the harm to wildlife and ecosystems from noise and possible fires releasing toxic emissions.”
She adds, “We urgently need contributions – large or small donations – to share the burden of funding our defence as widely as possible. It’s easy to donate on our Go Fund Me page. Thank you to everyone who has already contributed. Please show your support for our defence by attending the Inquiry whenever you can, particularly at the opening at 10am on Tuesday, 10 March.”
Rupert Gordon of HMWAG says, “We are really up against it to raise money to defend our East Devon and West Dorset countryside from attempts to install potentially dangerous and harmful Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). These city-based companies are happy to blight our countryside, and we continue to incur more costs borne by a group of likeminded individuals donating what they can. This is the planning system we have, and so we must take part fully, or face defeat by well-funded corporations. Please help us. If one installation succeeds, we will likely see several others in no time.”
Penny Mills of Devon CPRE says, “We have been campaigning against Battery Energy Storage Systems for several years because they are so dangerous and most people know little about them… BESS sites are at high risk of catching fire – the batteries can ignite without any outside interference. Fire services struggle to put out these fires, and instead have to let them burn out, which can take days. In the meantime, there is a risk of toxic plumes over a wide area. Contaminated water from any fire control activity will likely lead to streams, rivers, wells and aquifers being permanently poisoned.”
Penny adds, “These BESS are not good news, and are part of the slow creep of industrialisation of our beautiful countryside. We need to stop them. We urge people to support the Hawkchurch and Monkton Wyld Action Group however they can as they fight these two landmark Appeals.”
The Go Fund Me site is https://gofund.me/b7af78c6d
The Inquiry will be held in the Council Offices, Blackdown House, Border Road, Heathpark Industrial Estate, Honiton, EX14 1EJ.
For more information on BESS, go to: www.cpredevon.org.uk
