More than 1,000 objections to battery storage sites

The Mowbray battery storage scheme at East Rounton has attracted more than 260 objections.

More than 1,000 people have objected to plans to build two battery energy storage systems in the North Yorkshire countryside.

Plans for the one gigawatt systems at South Kilvington, near Thirsk, and at East Rounton, between Northallerton and Yarm, have been submitted by energy company NatPower.

The proposals for the sites have also been criticised by parish councils and countryside groups, with objectors' concerns including the potential fire risk from the developments, as well as the impact on the landscape and the loss of agricultural land.

NatPower said the facilities would make an "essential contribution" to ensuring reliable, secure and affordable electricity for the country.

Systems such as the ones proposed for the two sites store electricity from the grid at times of lower demand and release it back when it is needed.

As part of a public consultation, the Mowbray battery storage scheme at East Rounton attracted more than 260 objections.

Meanwhile, the Bellmoor scheme, proposed for farmland at South Kilvington, attracted more than 800 objections from members of the public, along with four comments in support.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, one resident said of the Bellmoor scheme that there was "no benefit to Thirsk or the surrounding area; no local employment, no economic benefits, no environmental improvements."

"The proposal is purely profit-driven, of which the local area will see zero," they added.

'Important setting'

Countryside charity CPRE North and East Yorkshire also wrote to North Yorkshire Council, raising concerns about the impact on the nearby North York Moors National Park.

Its submission stated: "It is considered that the industrial-scaled development would be incongruous within the open rural location within the important setting of the national park."

Meanwhile, Rounton Parish Council urged North Yorkshire Council to reject the Mowbray scheme due to concerns of an increase in traffic and noise during the construction phase, as well as worries about fire risk and the loss of agricultural land.

A NatPower spokesperson said the firm was "committed to engaging with the local community in the evolution of plans" for both energy storage schemes.

"We continue to work with local stakeholders and consultees, and we are actively adopting their feedback to ensure the proposals are designed for the benefit of the communities and the UK."

Members of North Yorkshire Council were expected to scrutinise both applications later this year.

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