Plans for a battery energy storage system (BESS) and related grid connection have been given the green light for a village site.
The “complex and controversial” BESS application, by SSE Staythorpe Battery Ltd, was discussed at an extraordinary planning meeting of Newark and Sherwood District Council on June 19.
The plan would create 82 battery storage container units, 82 associated power control system units and a substation compound with six transformers, an associated control building, three storage buildings, water tanks and fire hydrants, car parking spaces, landscaping, a drainage pond, as well as a large section of retained agricultural land.
The site is formed of two irregularly shaped fields in Averham, bordered by the A617, Main Road and Staythorpe Road.
The BESS is a temporary development, which would operate for 40 years from when it was first put into action.
The applicant’s associated plans are for an underground cable run linking the BESS to a grid connection point at Staythorpe substation, mostly following the path of a 230m stretch of Staythorpe Road.
Averham, Kelham, and Staythorpe and Upton parish councils objected to the BESS development, and 151 letters of objection were received from members of the public — with key concerns including loss of agricultural land, proximity to residential areas, adverse visual impact, risk of fire, and health, safety and noise concerns.
The plan was recommended for approval due to its benefits in helping to achieve net zero and secure stability and security in energy supply.
Keith Melton expressed concerns about “the rather casual way the balance of goods and bads was presented”, and that while the development may benefit people across the district it may have a significant negative effect on the small community of rural residents nearby.
He raised key concerns about fire risk and the batteries being in the area most likely to flood on the site.
“If there is a fire, the effect of that can be spread quite easily to residents through fumes and through the waterways,” he added.
Linda Dales added that she was unsure it was “right to take green to make green”, in reference to the loss of farmland. She said: “I don’t like this one at all.”
Tim Wildgust expressed concerns about the “40 year planning applications”, and suggested they were “disingenuous” as the site would likely be brought back into use through another planning application if it was still needed at the end of the first batteries’ lives.
He also spoke about residents’ concerns relating to fire risk of lithium batteries, and release of “toxic gases” in the case of a fire — but said he was “pretty comfortable” about the British standards and quality control for the batteries.
He also spoke in favour of the improved stability the scheme would offer to the grid and the energy cost savings it could deliver to residents.
“Unfortunately if you make changes [towards more sustainable energy] someone suffers,” he added.
“But we all want to switch on our TV, we all want to charge our electric cars if we have them.”
Emma Oldham said she was on the fence about the development due to the improvement to sustainable energy use versus the effect on residents, and commended the biodiversity schemes in place for the site.
She also questioned if these would be retained when the site was decommissioned in 40 years time — although Celia Brooks suggested no extra conditions should be put on this, as the landscape and needs of the area would be vastly different so far in the future.
Chairman Andy Freeman noted the council had to take into account “material planning considerations”, and the recent approval of Staythorpe BESS by the planning inspector after the council’s refusal.
He also noted the lack of objections from statutory consultees.
The vote was tied with five councillors for and against, and the chairman’s casting vote was used to approve the development.
The subsequent application for a connection cable —which is required to provide a grid connection from the BESS to the electricity network — was approved with eight votes for and two against.
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