Plans for a battery energy storage system spanning about 82 hectares have been approved in Leicestershire.Applicant Enderby Energy Ltd was given full planning permission for the proposal, on land at Lambcote Hill Farm, in Swinford Road, Walcote.Alberto Costa, Conservative MP for South Leicestershire, said the proposal was a “gross overdevelopment” of the area when the plans were first put forward and wrote to Harborough District Council (HDC) to raise concerns.However, planning officers at the local authority approved the plans on 18 June with a number of conditions.The conditions included the development starting within five years of the agreement, a detailed battery safety management plan being delivered before development starts, and the development needing to be decommissioned after no more than 40 years from the date it started operating.HDC also approved outline plans for a transmission substation, which means it was agreed in principle with further, more detailed plans to follow.The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the site would span the equivalent of 115 full-size football pitches.In a letter of objection to HDC’s chief executive John Richardson last September, Costa said that while he was supportive of renewable energy, the proposal would need “extensive infrastructure” to connect to the National Grid, and a separate planning application for the new sub-power station, too. He added although consultation with the Walcote community had taken place, the potential “size and impact” of the substation was not made clear and raised concerns about fire risks.A total of six people were in favour of the plans and four objections were received. Regarding fire risk concerns, NatPower said Greenfire Solutions, which is led by former senior officers from the UK fire and rescue service, have been appointed to advise on the plans. The firm added the location for the site was of “sufficient” size to deliver on their proposals and with the operational wind farm was “supported through national energy policy on efficient use of land”.
Plan for battery storage site on Leicestershire farmland approved
