111 objections as North Staffordshire landscape set to change for decades

A Cellarhead Substation sign on land off Rownall Road Wetley Rocks
-Credit: (Image: Google Street View)


A new battery energy storage site is set to be given the green light on farmland in North Staffordshire despite 111 people objecting to the plans. Those opposing the development on land off Rownall Road, near the Cellarhead Substation, have said the development will result in an unwanted industrial area in the Green Belt - and two applications of a similar nature have already been approved in the area, with other proposals coming forward too.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council granted permission for a battery energy storage system on land near Cellarhead Substation last year, as well as a "flexible energy facility" on land east of the substation and west of Rownall Road in late 2022.

Earlier this year councillors spoke out about the number of solar farm applications coming forward for land in the Staffordshire Moorlands. They raised concerns about the loss of farmland for food production at a planning committee meeting in March.

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The proposals for a battery energy storage site (BESS) on land at Newfields Farm have been recommended for approval by planning officers however. They will be considered by the planning committee at its meeting on Thursday (September 19).

The development is earmarked for a 2.48 hectare (6.13 acre) agricultural field. It would include 14 sets of battery energy storage racks, as well as a substation in its own compound with equipment up to 6.5m in height.

A report to the committee said: "The proposed BESS facility would have a storage capacity of 99.9MW. The facility would provide for flexibility in the energy, allowing for electricity to be taken from the grid when there is a surplus and stored.

"Energy is then released back onto the grid when it is needed. This flexible system helps to balance energy demand and generation.

"The operational period of the BESS facility will be 40 years. At the end of this period, the site will be decommissioned; all structures and hard surfacing will be removed and the land could be returned to agricultural use.

"It should be highlighted that Staffordshire Moorlands District Council declared a climate emergency on 10th July 2019 and committed to make the Staffordshire Moorlands carbon neutral by 2030. BESS schemes play an important role in the transition to a low carbon future."

But objector Ian Podmore, of Rownall Road, said: "So far two full battery storage applications have been approved, capturing 20 acres of former wheat fields. One application has recently been refused on grounds that if approved the Rownall Green Belt would become an unwanted industrial area.

"Now here we have a new full application. Just how many more will the Staffs Moorlands Council approve with a mere show of hands, without considering the overall cost to the rural community?

"Again this is within the protected Green Belt and within close proximity of the additionally protected Churnet Valley Masterplan which boundaries directly onto Rownall Road at its junction at the top of Mill Lane. The resultant accumulated neighbourhood risk to quality of life of noise, fire, explosion, and construction/operational nuisance would be considerable and wholly unacceptable to local residents."

Ursula Hughes of Coalpitford Lane, Leek, said: "I believe this development to an appalling waste of good agricultural land. Having lived locally for over 50 years I have seen it grow cereals and grass supporting livestock farming.

"As a country we need to be as self sufficient as possible. Once the top soil is disturbed this land will take decades to recover if ever.

"Land is a finite resource. I believe believe wind power to be less disruptive to agricultural, more efficient in our climate and more acceptable to the local population."

Jane Heath of Thorney Edge Road, Bagnall, said: "Myself and my husband strongly object to this latest application along with all of the other applications linking to the solar panel farm and battery storage. All of these applications should be thrown out.

"As you should already know, all of them are down to money; not one of them are considering the area, environment, public or wildlife. We have been approached several times asking if we would be interested in solar panels or battery storage on our land - we've said no."

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