Shipley MP joins campaign to oppose Cullingworth battery storage site

Anna Dixon MP for Shipley, has put her support behind a local campaign opposing the construction of a battery energy storage system on the edge of a village in her constituency.

Last week, the Member of Parliament attended a public meeting organised by the local group Cullingworth Against BESS, where she listened to local residents' concerns that the development could pose safety risks.

The project – known as Dobby Rocks, was initially proposed by a company named Amberside Energy Ltd in 2024 and would be connected to the electricity grid with the capacity to store enough energy to power around 650,000 homes for two hours. Amberside Energy’s development arm was bought out by Elgin in January 2025.

The proposed development would cover a 20-acre site on the south side of Cullingworth Village.

The location selection has caused concern in the local area due to its proximity to two residential developments and a disused landfill site containing a methane capture system.

Speaking after last week's meeting, Anna Dixon MP for Shipley, said: “I would like to thank all the local residents of Cullingworth and neighbouring villages for contacting me with their concerns over the proposed Dobby Rocks development.

“I have visited the site myself in recent weeks, as well as expressing my concerns directly to the company, and it is great to see the opinions of local people coming together in Cullingworth, and I’d like to thank the volunteers who have been researching the evidence.

“I fully support the new Labour government's ambitious climate targets, including its aims on net zero and mission to become a clean energy superpower, and I understand that infrastructure such as battery energy storage systems will be key in achieving that.

“It is crucial, however, that any new infrastructure is absolutely safe, benefits the local community, and is sited in appropriate locations. And with the number of concerns over the Dobby Rocks proposal - particularly its closeness to houses and a former landfill site, I believe there remain significant unanswered safety concerns.

“My number one role as MP is to stand up for our local residents, and I take that job seriously. I will continue to express these concerns to the company. If they go ahead with seeking planning permission, I will request that the planning decision go to a full committee made up of councillors from all political parties.

“I am also seeking a meeting with government ministers to seek assurances that adequate safety standards are in place for these installations nationally.”