Land West Of A131 And North Of Butlers Wood Sudbury Road Bulmer Essex Data via plota.co.uk

26/01942/FUL Pending Consideration

Proposal

The installation and operation and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with associated infrastructure, access (primary and secondary) and ancillary works including drainage, landscaping and biodiversity enhancements. Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
24 Aug 2026
Decision
Expected by 23 Nov 2026

Under consideration

No decision has been issued yet. Plota predicted a decision around 28 Oct 2026; it is now day 65.

The consultation period closed on 29 Sept 2026.

Documents 87

Statements & assessments 30

PDF Bng metric appendix f Documentation · 2 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF 10 - part 9 arboricultural method statement Documentation · 2 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Bng metric appendix b Documentation · 2 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF 11 - part 2 noise impact assessment Documentation · 2 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Bng metric appendix a Documentation · 2 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF 11 - part 1 noise impact assessment Documentation · 2 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF 05 - part 1 flood risk and drainage assessment Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 05 - part 2 flood risk and drainage assessment Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 09 - part 4 transport statement with construction traffic management Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 09 - part 5 transport statement with construction traffic management Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 09 - part 6 transport statement with construction traffic management Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 10 - part 1 arboricultural method statement Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 01 - planning design and access statement Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 02 - historic environment desk based assessment report Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 03 - statement of community involvement Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 10 - part 7 (1) arboricultural method statement Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 10 - part 8 arboricultural method statement Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 10 - part 10 arboricultural method statement Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Biodiversity metric calculation tool Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 04 - part 2 ecological impact assessment Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 04 - part 4 ecological impact assessment Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 09 - part 1 transport statement with construction traffic management Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 09 - part 3 transport statement with construction traffic management Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 10 - part 2 arboricultural method statement Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 10 - part 4 arboricultural method statement Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 10 - part 6 arboricultural method statement Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 04 - part 3 ecological impact assessment Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 09 - part 2 transport statement with construction traffic management Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 10 - part 3 arboricultural method statement Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF 10 - part 5 arboricultural method statement Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗

Plans & drawings 19

PDF 12 - outline battery safety management plan Documentation · 2 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Hbtwlpwt-pla-eq._acstc-fnce-r1 Typical acoustic fence elevation Drawing · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Hbtwlpwt-pla-eq._hv_room-r1 Typical elevation of hv room Drawing · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Hbtwlpwt-pla-eq._lv_room-r1 Typical elevation of lv room Drawing · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Hbtwlpwt-pla-eq._mv_room-r1 Typical elevation of mv room Drawing · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Hbtwlpwt-pla-eq._pcs-r1 Typical mv skid Drawing · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Landscape and visual appraisal Drawing · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Onsite habitat map/plan (post-development) Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF L01 Landscape mitigation plan Drawing · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Hbtwlpwt-pla-eq._acstc-fnce-r1 Typical acoustic fence elevation Drawing · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF E hbtwlpwt-pla-eq._cctv/light-r1 Typical ccvt & lighting elevation Drawing · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Hbtwlpwt-pla-eq._tx_cmpnd.-r1 Final for planning Drawing · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Location plan Drawing · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Baseline onsite habitat map/plan (pre-development) Documentation · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Hbtwlpwt-pla-eq._bess-r1 Typical battery enclosure Drawing · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF E hbtwlpwt--ppllaa--eeqq..__hhrrmmnncc__ffllttrr--rr11 Typical elevation of harmonic filter Drawing · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Hbtwlpwt-pla-eq._scrty-fnce-r1 Typical security fence and access gate arrangement Drawing · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Hbtwlpwt--ppllaa--eeqq..__wwaatteerr__ttaannkk--rr11 Typical water tank elevation Drawing · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Btlw-lan-ind_sl-r16 Site plan Drawing · 24 Aug 2026 View ↗

Consultation & comments 30

PDF Ecc suds Consultee Comment · 15 Oct 2026 View ↗
PDF Objector’s name hidden Show Objection Comment · 5 Oct 2026 View ↗
PDF Objector’s name hidden Show Objection Comment · 1 Oct 2026 View ↗
PDF Forestry commision Consultee Comment · 30 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Objector’s name hidden Show Objection Comment · 29 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Consultee Comment · 29 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Bulmer parish council Consultee Comment · 29 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Objector’s name hidden Show Objection Comment · 28 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF - ecc historic buildings consultant (north) Consultee Comment · 28 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Objector’s name hidden Show Objection Comment · 28 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Objector’s name hidden Show Objection Comment · 28 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Essex fire & rescue Consultee Comment · 28 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Objector’s name hidden Show Objection Comment · 27 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Objector’s name hidden Show Objection Comment · 27 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Objector’s name hidden Show Objection Comment · 27 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Objector’s name hidden Show Objection Comment · 27 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Objector’s name hidden Show Objection Comment · 25 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Objector’s name hidden Show Objection Comment · 25 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF National grid Consultee Comment · 21 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Natural england Consultee Comment · 19 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Environment agency Consultee Comment · 15 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Active travel Consultee Comment · 14 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Objector’s name hidden Show Objection Comment · 14 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Objector’s name hidden Show Objection Comment · 14 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Ecc minerals Consultee Comment · 11 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF - health and safety executive Consultee Comment · 11 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Anglian water Consultee Comment · 9 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Objector’s name hidden Show Objection Comment · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Objector’s name hidden Show Objection Comment · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗
PDF Economic development Consultee Comment · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗

All documents on the council site ↗

Site constraints 3

Agricultural land, grade 2
Best and most versatile land (grades 1, 2 and 3a). Source: the Predictive Agricultural Land Classification Map (Defra and Natural England, 2025; the Welsh Government's Predictive ALC Map 2 in Wales), a model rather than a site survey. Natural England's Provisional ALC map (1:250,000, 1970s), which most planning maps still show, had this area as grade 3. The predicted grade is Defra's current estimate; only a site survey settles it.
Where development of farmland is needed, policy prefers poorer land over the best and most versatile (grades 1, 2 and 3a). Three sources: Natural England's post-1988 field surveys, which are definitive where they exist; the Defra predictive map for England (2025) and the Welsh Government predictive map, modelled from the soil map with 3a and 3b split; and the 1970s provisional map, which planners and other services still show, coarser and with grade 3 undivided. Where the provisional and predicted grades disagree, treat the predicted grade as the current estimate and expect an application to carry its own survey.
2 listed buildings within 150 m of the postcode pin
Nearest: The Old Vicarage, Grade II, about 31 m from the postcode pin · 2 Grade II
The site itself is not listed. Listed building consent is needed for work that affects the special interest of a listed building, inside or out, on top of planning permission. Setting can be a consideration for buildings nearby; there is no fixed radius.
Show all 2 with distances
Historic England ↗
Conservation area about 4 m away: Bulmer
The edge of the area; work outside it can still affect its setting.
The council must give weight to preserving or enhancing the area's character and appearance. Not every council has published its boundaries as open data.
Council document ↗
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 6 October 2026. The pin for this application is the centre of its postcode rather than the building, so distances to nearby designations are measured from the postcode and can be out by the width of the postcode area. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

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Important details

Council
Braintree
Received
24 Aug 2026
Validated
24 Aug 2026
Target decision
23 Nov 2026

Decision outlook

Day 65, past the statutory target. 78% of full applications in Braintree are decided within thirteen weeks, which runs to 23 Nov 2026; extensions of time are common, and the council need not decide on the day. Last seen undecided on 23 Oct 2026.

Day 659 days past the 56-day target
52%decided within 8 weeks
81%approved
37decided in the last year

Plota live figures for full applications decided by Braintree in the last twelve months, from validation. Braintree decision record →

Consultation & key dates

Comments by
29 Sept 2026
Statutory expiry
23 Nov 2026
Braintree
Planning Authority Score
7/10
Good
#61 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Householder decisions

Braintree is faster than most councils at deciding householder applications, ranking #47 out of 296. Householder applications are slightly more likely to be approved here (92%) than the national average (90%).

Faster than most councils
for householder decisions
These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
Braintree decision statistics
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
86%
Overall approval rate
Below avg (87%) #189 of 296
92%
Householder approved
Above avg (90%) #148 of 296
78%
Decided in 8 weeks
Above avg (63%) #47 of 296
33%
Extended time limit
Below avg (41%) #71 of 296
62%
Minor dwellings approved
119 decided (1-9 homes)
87%
Major dwellings approved
15 decided (10+ homes)
91%
Change of use approved
11 decided
927
Total decisions
132 refused in the year to March 2026