The application has been deferred
A proposed site layout for the battery energy storage site on land at Tean Leys Farm submitted as part of the application to East Staffordshire Borough Council
Councillors fear a proposed battery storage site could cause traffic chaos in a nearby village. The plans for the battery energy storage system (BESS) at Tean Leys Farm in the Staffordshire Moorlands include a cable connection to an electricity substation in Upper Tean.
Residents raised concerns that works to install the cable through the middle of Upper Tean would cause major disruption to road users and local businesses. Planning committee members at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council have now voted to defer the application so more information on the cable route can be provided.
Applicant Tean Leys Energy Storage wants to build a 70MW BESS, which support the transition to renewable energy by allowing surplus electricity to be stored. It would consist of 112 battery containers and other structures, with cable connections to the existing substation on Cheadle Road, Upper Tean, and a new substation planned as part of a large solar farm development on the other side of the A50.
The proposed cable route through Upper Tean goes along Riverside Road, High Street, New Road and Cheadle Road. While the application received just two objections from residents, Checkley parish councillor Steve Buckley told the planning committee that local people ‘strongly objected’ to the plans.
He said: “The application provides no quantifiable evidence of excess electricity on the local network or why as BESS is needed at this specific location. More concerning is the lack of proper assessment of the cable routes through Upper Tean. The design and access statement contains almost no detail on routing, installation methods or construction impacts on residents.”
Cllr Buckley said flooding is an issue along some of the roads along the proposed cable route.
Harman Sond, speaking for the applicants, said they were ‘at the mercy’ of the district network operator in terms of how the BESS would be connected to the local electricity grid. But he insisted the applicants would look to minimise the impact of the scheme as much as possible, and that it would be done to the ‘highest safety standards’.
Mr Sond said: “We have over 13 years experience delivering renewable projects like this across the UK, with a strong focus on environmental enhancement.This project will help capture surplus generated electricity so it’s not wasted, and act as a grid stabiliser, playing a vital role in the transition away from fossil fuels. However, this scheme is not typical in many ways. It is for battery energy storage on a surplus field which was assessed as poor quality. There were no concerns raised by heritage or landscape teams, with the scheme being away from residential properties.”
Committee members questioned the logic of running the cables along busy roads rather than across fields. But planning officers advised the committee that refusing permission on highways grounds could be problematic, as the highways department at Staffordshire County Council had not objected.
The committee instead voted to defer the application to allow more information on the cable routes to be provided.
Councillor Keith Flunder said: “They’ve not addressed at all the impact on local businesses, on the village itself, or anything like that. There’s been no assessment in terms of emergency vehicle access at Upper Tean during the construction period. There’s not enough information for us to make the decision today. I’m sure there are other routes that could be taken.”
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