Council planners asked for opinion on proposed battery energy storage facility
Redcar and Cleveland Council has been asked for a ‘screening opinion’ on a potential new battery energy storage plant on farmland off the A171 near Guisborough.
Screening opinions are sought from local planning authorities in the early stages of a development’s design to establish whether an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required prior to submission of a planning application.
Battery energy storage systems enable electrical energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind power to be stored and then released when needed.
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In a planning document applicant GBW Ltd said the overall proposed site covered 3.29 hectares of agricultural land with the facility taking up 0.81 hectares. Adjoining the site to the west was an existing solar farm scheme.
It said the land in question did not fall within any land-based protected designations such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or any local nature reserves or wildlife areas.
The scheme would comprise 10 pairs of batteries, transformers, two office containers and a switch room. A SUDs pond for drainage purposes would also be added, along with landscaping enhancements. An existing access point from the A171 would be used and an internal road built allowing the management and maintenance of the technology.
The document prepared by consultants Origin Planning Services assessing the proposal said: “There are occasions where other existing or approved development may be relevant in determining whether significant effects are likely as a consequence of a proposed development, however, it is expected in this case there are none.”
It said any waste produced would be properly segregated and recycled and, where this was not was possible, disposed of in line with the council’s requirements. It also said construction, operation and eventual disassembly of the plant was not expected to create any pollutants or hazardous substances.
A noise impact assessment would be submitted as part of a future planning application to determine the predicted noise impact and set out any mitigation measures needed. Meanwhile, no existing nearby properties were expected to be overly impacted visually due to existing tree screening which would buffer the majority of the development from view.
The proximity of the grade II listed Howlbeck Mill Farm, about 500 metres away from the planned site, was highlighted. However, due to the topography of the site falling away from the road, as well as the presence of an existing electrical sub station and permitted solar farm precedents, it was said to be highly unlikely that it could in any way impact the asset or its setting.
The document concluded: “We do not consider the proposal would give rise to any significant environmental effects, and as such, we do not consider a further application would fall under formal EIA development, as defined by the EIA regulations.”
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