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A large-scale battery energy storage project is set to rise near the decommissioned Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station after winning a key planning appeal. Sandbrook Capital BES Ltd will develop the facility, one of the largest of its kind in the UK, following an overturned decision by the government’s Planning Inspectorate.
The appeal decision has just been announced. Paul Sawbridge, Director of Sandbrook Capital, said: "This represents a significant milestone for Sandbrook Capital and the broader energy sector in the United Kingdom. The capability to store and distribute renewable energy efficiently is paramount to achieving the nation's net-zero targets.
"Our 1.2GW facility will play an instrumental role in balancing the electricity grid, preventing energy wastage, and ensuring a sustainable power supply where and when it is most needed." Sandbrook Capital is a private investment firm that partners with entrepreneurs to deliver green energy projects.
Rushcliffe Borough Council initially rejected the project in 2023 over concerns about its impact on the Green Belt, but it gained approval after national planning guidance was updated in December 2024. The development, spanning 168 battery containers and 84 transformers, will include multiple six-metre-high substations and be enclosed by a 2.4-metre security fence.
The Planning Inspectorate considered the broader impact of the plans on the local area. Inspector C. McDonagh wrote in their judgement: "The surrounding area of the appeal site is largely formed of a stark mix of rural and urban characteristics in an undulating landscape.
"This is contrasted by large adjacent infrastructure, such as the disused Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, electrical pylons and the A453 road, which links Nottingham and the M1 motorway. While the area remains predominantly rural, its landscape has seen significant built form punctuate the tranquillity one would normally associate with such a locality.
"Taken together, I find that despite mitigation and surrounding landscape features which would be more conducive to an industrial type of development, there would be harm to the character and appearance of the area." Yet despite acknowledging the change it will bring to the local area, the inspector decided the benefits far outweighed these harms.
They added, "The need to install more storage of this type remains of the utmost importance. The ability to store energy from renewable sources is especially beneficial given the intermittent nature of wind and solar power, for example.
"Rather than energy being lost when it cannot be used by the grid, or power generators being turned off when the grid cannot handle the load, the power will be stored and sent back to the grid for distribution when and where it is required." The decision marks the latest significant development around the former Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station since the last unit there officially closed down in September 2024.
The battery facility will support the UK’s goal of reaching 40GW of energy storage by 2035, playing a crucial role in stabilizing the grid and integrating renewable energy sources. Construction is expected to commence within three years, and the site will be operational for at least 40 years.
The area surrounding the former coal-fired power station is undergoing a significant transformation. A primary quarry is planned nearby, extracting up to 1 million tonnes of minerals. At the same time, redevelopment efforts at the 280-hectare power station site will attract industries ranging from advanced manufacturing to low-carbon hydrogen production. Once fully developed, the site is expected to generate 7,000 to 8,000 jobs, reinforcing the region’s role as a clean energy and industrial hub.
Ratcliffe-on-Soar is one of three tax sites forming the East Midlands Freeport, a special economic zone designed to stimulate investment and trade.
With the demolition of the power station’s iconic cooling towers scheduled to begin soon, the site is poised for a new chapter that aligns with the UK’s ambitious green energy transition.