Controversial plans for an energy storage plant on green belt land near a West Yorkshire village have been withdrawn.
Leeds City Council received more than 900 public objections to a planned Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) near Allerton Bywater.
OnPath Energy sought permission for the project, which would have been built within a larger solar farm already given planning consent.
In March, the council’s North and East plans panel deferred a decision on the project near Barnsdale Road.
Now the planning application has been withdrawn at the request of the authority. OnPath said it was still keen to build the plant and would resubmit plans to the council.
A council spokesperson said: “The request was made because the planning application did not comprise all the information required and necessary for the application to be re-presented to the plans panel for decision.
“After some discussion, the applicant agreed to the request and the application was withdrawn from the council’s consideration.”
OnPath’s Robin Winstanley said schemes like the Barnsdale plant were crucial to meeting the country’s energy needs.
He said: “While we’re keen to move this important project forward as soon as possible, especially after it received a recommendation for approval from the council’s expert planning officers, we’re happy to withdraw the application at the council’s request and to provide the additional information that has been requested before resubmitting.”
In March councillors said more information was needed from OnPath on issues including fire safety and the consideration of alternative sites.
Ward Labour councillors Mary Harland and James Lewis, leader of the council, were among objectors to the project.
Because of the impact on green belt land, the scheme was required to meet “very special circumstances” to allow building work. OnPath, previously called Banks Renewables, said safety concerns had been addressed and alternative sites were not deemed viable.
