Planning Reference DM/26/1671
Latest position – July 2026
The Parish Council remains active with regard to this development. As a council, we are committed to ensuring that the safety and environmental concerns of this development are properly and robustly addressed by the developers (Elements Green) and the authorities concerned, notably West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (WSFRS) and Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC).
Elements Green submitted revised plans to MSDC in July 2026. You can see what Elements Green are now proposing here. Elements Green are suggesting that these new proposals are ‘non-material’ amendments to their original planning application. There is no legal definition of ‘non-material’ and MSDC will determine if they consider these to be ‘non-material’.
The Parish Council have written to MSDC setting out our concerns and our position that we do not consider the suggested amendments to be non-material given the significant questions that they pose and the lack of supporting detail.
The Parish Council discussed these plans at the council meeting on 27th July 2026. We agreed that we will continue to engage with the company, WSFRS, MSDC in co-operation with our neighbouring parish councils to try and gain assurances that the concerns we have raised are being properly and robustly assessed. At present, we cannot provide such reassurances to the communities that we serve. This is deeply concerning.
If you wish to comment on the new application submitted by Elements Green, you can do so by emailing your comments to planninginfo@midsussex.gov.uk quoting reference DM/26/1671
If you wish to raise any points with Shermanbury Parish Council you can contact us at email address shermanbury@shermanburyparishcouncil.gov.uk
Background
The proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is on Wineham Lane, opposite the Royal Oak pub and the Royal Oak Country Park. This development was given planning permission in Sept 2024 by MSDC. This was despite robust objections from a large number of residents. In addition, Shermanbury, Twineham and Bolney Parish Councils attended the planning meeting and presented objections on the grounds of safety and environmental impact. No representative from WSFRS was at the planning meeting nor apparently invited to attend by MSDC. Despite the safety and environmental concerns raised, planning permission was nonetheless granted by MSDC.
You can see the original planning application here.
You can watch the video recording of the MSDC Planning Committee where planning permission was granted here.
Since this time, the land has been sold to a company, Elements Green who are active in developing the site.
The site itself is located on the boundary points of MSDC and Horsham DC, and of Shermanbury, Bolney and Twineham Parish Councils. The site is on Twineham Parish and MSDC, albeit the impacted residents and communities are on all 3 parish areas. As such, the parish councils continue to co-operate on this matter.
Our concerns
Notwithstanding that planning permission was granted, Shermanbury PC have continued to be active in engaging with the company, WSFRS and MSDC. Our concerns remain focused on safety and environmental impact and include:
Safety
- Emergency access for fire crews – no viable secondary emergency access. Proposed secondary access is very close to the primary access creating the risk both are simultaneously compromised. In addition, both access points are directly opposite the Royal oak Country Park leading to the risk of conflict between evacuees and emergency response.
- Water supplies for firefighting – we remain concerned around the lack of evidenced modelling that water supplies are adequate
- Battery equipment specifications and spacing – we remain concerned around the testing, spacing and specification of equipment.
- National Fire Chiefs Guidance 2026 – revised guidance was issued in 2026. Elements Green have committed to retrospective compliance with the revised guidance. This is positive and we await more detail in this regard.
Environment
- Noise – we remain concerned about the levels of noise the site will create given that an application for an acoustic fence has now been requested (July 2026)
- Light pollution – we remain concerned around the levels of light pollution given the 24/7 operation of the site
- Toxic run off of firewater – we remain concern that the environmental impact of toxic run off of fire water into our local water system has not been properly assessed.
- Visual impact – the development must be sympathetic to the local rural and historic environment
The Parish Council is clear that initiatives such as BESS are important as part of the national drive to net zero carbon emissions and sustainable energy. However, this must be done in co-operation with local communities to ensure they are confident that safety and environmental concerns are properly and transparently addressed.