Derbyshire planners have given the go-ahead for a battery energy storage system facility on greenfield land despite concerns about the impact on the countryside, highways and a feared fire risk.
North East Derbyshire District Council’s planning committee voted unanimously in favour of conditionally approving Enray SPV 23855 Ltd’s application for a BESS at Hallgate Farm, off Hallgate Lane, at Pilsley, in Chesterfield, on 10.57hectares of greenfield land with a capacity of up to 50MW with infrastructure, engineering works, drainage, cabling, landscaping and access arrangements.
Applicant spokesperson, Stuart Hammond, said: “We acknowledge that this is in a community and we acknowledge that there are concerns, however, we have robustly addressed them.
“The [council] officer raises no issues, the consultees have no objections and as you can see there is a lot of effort that has gone into addressing that – technical and scientific as well.”
However, District Cllr Kevin Gillott, who represents Pilsley and Morton, raised concerns that the scheme represents a substantial intrusion into the countryside and it should only be permitted if it can be proven that it will not pose any adverse effect on the area’s visual amenity and character including the landscape.
Pilsley Parish Council also objected to the scheme on the grounds it may pose a potential fire risk, that there is not enough adequate detail regarding noise levels, alongside concerns for the landscape and wildlife and that residents have road safety concerns.
Following a consultation, 13 residents raised a number of similar objections but 24 residents made submissions supporting the scheme arguing the site is well away from residential areas, that it is a temporary and reversible scheme, and that it will bring biodiversity enhancements and support cleaner energy and help to meet Net Zero and climate change targets.
Derbyshire County Council’s highways authority raised no objections to the scheme subject to a number of conditions relating to visibility on to Hallgate Lane and during work times as well as requesting a replacement battery delivery management plan and a construction management plan.
The Environment Agency raised no flood risk concerns and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service raised no objections as did the district council’s Environmental Health Officer subject to conditions relating to land contamination and the control of dust.
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust urged a number of concerns be addressed including the loss of any hedgerows in line with regulations and that there should be precautionary work plans to protect reptiles and animals but ultimately raised no objections beyond these conditions.
But the Ramblers Association does have concerns that the proposal will adversely affect the aesthetics of nearby Pilsley which runs along the eastern boundary of the development.
North East Derbyshire District Council officers argued the scheme would provide 50 megawatts of battery storage to help manage energy supply and demand while supporting the transition to net zero and reducing a reliance on fossil fuels.
BESS facilities boast rechargeable batteries that store electricity for later use to help stabilize power grids and they can be integrated with other renewable energy sources such as wind or solar power and they can provide back-up power when needed.
The council stated the benefits of the scheme outweigh any harm it may cause to the landscape or elsewhere and that subject to meeting various conditions the proposal would not conflict with local and national planning policy.
The scheme includes 42 battery units, one substation, eight transformers, 14 inverters, two control rooms, a spare parts container, two water tanks, 2.4m high fencing and access gates, CCTV cameras on three metre columns, and landscape mitigation with the maximum height of any structure stipulated as 7.1metres.
Its planned site is currently used for grazing and not crops and is in a dip surrounded by countryside and this main area is classed as poor quality land, according to the council, while only a smaller area where a new track is planned is deemed to be very good quality.
Claire Davies, whose family has farmed in Pilsley for four generations, said: “If approved this proposal would be a much-needed lifeline providing us with a better financial footing to continue to manage the countryside and the public footpaths into the future for the benefit of all.
“More money would also mean more jobs would be sustained for local people both indirectly and directly.
“Overall, we feel this proposal is an excellent use of the poor quality land and we generally believe it would benefit the environment, the area and the people of NE Derbyshire.”
The applicant also submitted a Smoke Plume Analysis Report which concluded that the risk of a full BESS fire occurring is well below the Health and Safety Executive’s guidance of broadly acceptable risks to the public.
Managing Director Martin Blunden, of fire safety consultancy Greenfire Solutions, said: “The UK and Republic of Ireland are leading the way with energy storage across the world.
“We have the lowest rate of incidents across the world. We have the best health and safety framework that exists across the world and we have various safe installations in the UK.”
A council report stated that given the information it has received and that there are no objections from statutory consultees there is no evidence to suggest that the proposed development would be unsafe.
It added that subject to conditions, the noise, dust, odour, fire risk, light spill, traffic movements, and visual intrusion would not be so significantly adverse as to be deemed detrimental to the amenity of residents and footpath users.
A council spokesperson stated: “The scheme would provide 50MW of battery storage, helping to manage energy supply and demand, support the transition to net zero, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
“The ability of this proposal contributing to this transition is a significant public benefit and should attract great weight.
“Overall, officers conclude that the benefits of this proposal clearly outweigh the harm to the landscape character and any other harm identified in this report.”
Cllr Andrew Cooper urged the council to persuade the applicant to make a community contribution in addition to the scheme but he acknowledged it is not a planning consideration or requirement and council officer Adrian Kirkham confirmed that because there is no impact on the area’s infrastructure it is not appropriate to seek any such financial contribution.
The planning committee agreed at a recent meeting to conditionally approve the application subject to conditions including an impact assessment and a conservation payment certificate.
Other conditions which will need to be met by the applicant include a landscape maintenance and management plan, restricted work and delivery times and agreeing to a limited 40-year lifespan for the scheme and that the land will subsequently be restored to its previous agricultural use.
Report by Jon Cooper – Local Democracy Reporter
