Battery storage site application given green light

The site will be situated next to the 42 acres used by the Bolnet Grid substation and an offshore wind facility

Plans to build a battery energy storage site in West Sussex have been approved despite opposition.

The application for the 27-acre facility on land at Coombe Farm, Bob Lane, Twineham, was unanimously granted by Mid Sussex District Council.

There were dozens of letters of objection to the scheme, while Twineham Parish Council expressed concern over the site's proximity to residential properties.

One Planet Developments said there was "an urgent national need" for energy storage and this site would store electricity during peak renewable energy generation periods and release it when needed.

The statement from Twineham Parish Council also expressed concern that the development would be in conflict with the Rampion 2 cable route, which is part of the planned expansion of the windfarm near Brighton.

No concerns were raised by West Sussex Fire and Rescue

Concerns were also expressed by Bolney Parish Council, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Twineham Parish Council raised concern that the battery site would be in conflict with the Rampion 2 cable route

Christopher Phillips, chairman of the planning committee, said he was surprised an application had been submitted before the Rampion 2 wind farm situation had been resolved.

But officers said this was not a valid reason to delay the decision.

Mr Phillips said there was "a certain amount of sympathy" for residents but the  committee was "very much in the hands of the experts".

“They’re saying that this sort of facility needs to be near the substation so there isn’t too much loss of power," he added.

A spokesperson for the developer said the site was needed "due to an increased emphasis on the production of electricity from renewable sources such as solar and wind".

Without these storage assets the UK risked inadequate energy security or having to build more fossil fuel power stations and gas peaking plants, they said.

Work must start within seven years due to the complex nature of the development, councillors heard.