Battery storage facility approved despite fears

CONCERNS OVER HOW ENERGY SCHEME WILL AFFECT COUNTRYSIDE, FIRE RISK AND IMPACT ON NEARBY VILLAGE

- By JON COOPER

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 on 10.57 hectares 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."