The Isle of Wight Council has apologised to those behind contentious plans for a new energy park near Wootton, after a planning gaffe saw permission granted and then withdrawn.

Approval was given for the scheme, on land to the north west of Whiterails Road/west of Park Road, and land to the south east of Whiterails Road/west of Briddlesford Road, in April 2024.

But the decision faced a Judicial Review.

The legal challenge, which raised a fire risk from the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), resulted in permission being withdrawn.

The council said the Local Planning Authority (LPA) did not provide the Planning Committee with additional information on fire safety to properly inform their decision at the time and admits it should have.

As a result, the LPA quashed permission, which had already been granted to applicant, Sunny Oaks Renewable Energy Park Limited.

As previously reported, it has meant the application has had to be resubmitted and readvertised with the necessary additional information for consultation.

A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Council said: "The council apologises to the applicant and interested parties for any inconvenience caused.

"The council confirms that any previously submitted comments on the application will still be considered, so there is no need to resubmit them."

(Image: Google Maps/Natural Power) A detractor of the project previously said: “Destroying our natural environment to replace it with a energy farm is definitely not the right way to go about it in these times.

“We need to protect our natural environment and especially woodland.

“An ancient woodland copse will be directly affected by this farm, wildlife and the land itself will be damaged.

A Planning Statement prepared by property specialists BCM said: “The proposed development is located on land which is not within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, nor designated for any purpose.

“The extensive range of mitigation and enhancement measures identified have been developed to enhance the landscape character of the site and to remedy the potential adverse landscape and visual effects."

A public consultation finishes on November 29.

After this, planners will reconsider the application.