SL/2017/0874 PARISH: Ulverston Rosside Farm, Rosside PROPOSAL: Battery energy storage facility, ancillary equipment and landscaping APPLICANT: Mr Batov (RE Projects Development) Grid Ref: E: 327560 N: 478043 Stone Park Bungalow Field View H i g C h o B t t a E a g r n T e L Barne House 3 1 Tamworth Lodge Penn Close Broad Dale ocks Padd The Electricity Sub Station SP SL k ec B n ar B 48.7m Well MP 20 Sunny Bank Dykelands y rr e h s C e re T Bridgelands Three Bridges 1 m .6 49 7 Def Line Of Posts 5 1 " 3 1 m .1 6 4 High Bridge SL/2017/0874 The material contained in this plot has been reproduced from an Ordnance Survey map with permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Rosside Farm Licence o. 100024277 & Crown Copyright Rosside Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings ULVERSTON Scale: Not to scale SUMMARY 1. The proposed development relates to the establishment of a battery energy storage facility on part of an agricultural field located to the west of Ulverston. 2. The main planning issues relate to the principle of development, the landscape and visual impact of the development, the potential impact on residential amenity and highway considerations. RECOMMENDATION 3. The application is recommended for approval subject to conditions listed at the end of the report. DESCRIPTION AND PROPOSAL Site description 4. The site comprises an area within a large pasture field located to the west of Ulverston, forming part of an agricultural land holding at Rosside Farm. 5. The proposed development would be positioned within a low lying south eastern corner of a field bounded by mature hedgerows on two sides. The site adjoins open pasture fields. The nearest residential properties are located at Penn Close some 160 metres to the south of the site, Field View, Stone Park Bungalow and High Barn approximately 140 to 170 metres to the south east and Broad Dale approximately 250 metres to the south west of the site. 6. Access to the site is via a gate located on Pennington Lane in the south west corner of the field, within a double bend in the road close to junctions with two minor access lanes. There are no public footpaths crossing the site. 7. An electricity substation is located 200 metres to the south of the site between Pennington Lane and the railway line. Proposal 8. The application seeks consent to construct a low voltage battery energy storage facility which would store power generated at times of low demand to be released into the local electricity grid at times of peak demand. The facility would have a capacity of 6 MW and it would be able to supply the local distribution network with around 15,000 MWh of electricity per year. 9. Specifically the proposed development would comprise the siting of five containerised battery units each measuring 12.2 metres by 2.4 metres by 3 metres high, five transformer units, and a network operator substation and electrical container each measuring 6.5 metres by 4 metres by 3 metres high the structures would be enclosed within a 3 metre high acoustic perimeter fence. 10. The development would occupy an area of approximately 33 metres by 25 metres and the site would be excavated into the slope of the land so that it sits at the lowest point close to the southern boundary. 11. A new hedgerow would be established along the western and southern boundaries of the site so that the development would be enclosed by hedgerows on three sides with the rising land forming an enclosure on the northern side. 12. Access to the site would be via the existing field gate positioned in the south west corner of the field onto Pennington Lane. A new crushed stone surfaced track would be laid along the field perimeter and a temporary hardstanding would be created adjacent to the new enclosure to accommodate the construction compound works and vehicles. 13. The development would be connected to the local electricity distribution network via an underground cable running from the site to the local substation located to the south of the site. The connection works do not form part of this application and would be undertaken by Electricity North West under their permitted development rights as statutory undertakers. 14. The site will be operational for up to 25 years and would be decommissioned with removal of all structures and return to agricultural land within a period of 12 months following the cease in operation. 15. The proposal is supported by a Transport Note, Noise Assessment, and Ecological Impact Assessment which are detailed in the assessment section of the committee report. CONSULTATIONS Ulverston Town Council: 16. To be reported. Cumbria County Council: Highways 17. The Highway Authority has some concerns with the proposed development as submitted. However they have stated that these concerns can be managed through the use of planning conditions on any consent granted. 18. Specifically they have advised that the applicant has not depicted any visibility splays on the submitted plan. However it is acknowledged that the site access is presently used for agricultural vehicles; in addition it is acknowledged that the proposed development is anticipated to generate little traffic once construction is complete. Taking into account the short construction period and the inclusion of a planning condition requiring the applicant to submit a Construction Traffic Management Plan the highway authority would have no objection to the use of this access point for the purpose of this development. 19. The applicant has indicated that construction site traffic will be directed to the site via the A590 through Pennington Lane. Vehicles exceeding a width of 6’- 6’’ are prohibited from Pennington Lane, except for access. Pennington Lane is not wide enough for 2 heavy commercial vehicles to pass one another, therefore the timing of delivery access / egress to / from the site should not coincide. In addition the bend on the public highway adjacent to the site access (as shown in the swept path) would need to be strengthened and widened in order to facilitate the construction traffic. Other sections of Pennington Lane should be protected to ensure that there is no damage to the public highway and highway boundary fencing. Agreement would need to be provided to ensure commitment to repair any damage identified through carrying out before and after condition surveys. 20. It should be ensured that sufficient parking and turning is available for all vehicles involved in the site construction / decommissioning. In addition it is recommended that a passing place is provided on the proposed access track. 21. The Highway Authority has no objection to the proposed development, subject to conditions which are set out at the end of the report. Lead Local Flood Authority 22. The applicant has stated their intention to use Sustainable Drainage System techniques for the purpose of site drainage. However no details have been provided with regards to this. It is recommended that a condition is included on any consent requiring surface water drainage details to be submitted for approval. South Lakeland District Council: Environmental Health Officer 23. I can confirm that the Environmental Protection Group have no observations to make regarding the proposal. All monitoring and mitigation methods put in place are satisfactory. Arboricultural Officer 24. I have no objection to the proposed scheme, I would recommend that the planting scheme is conditioned. Natural England 25. No comments to make. Referral to standing advice on protected species. Neighbours / Others: 26. At the time of writing, one letter of objection and one letter of comment have been received. The main concerns are: • Already endured four years of work at the electricity plant which has been a major disruption, the development should be located on an industrial estate. • The proposal will be an eyesore directly in front of our living room and will have a huge impact upon our property. • The proposal raises noise and safety concerns. What hours will they be working? This is quiet countryside. • How will the large containers be delivered to the site along a narrow country lane? • Impacts upon wildlife. • There is no reference to the weight of the proposed containers in order to establish whether the proposed access track of crushed stone would be adequate to support the weight of the containers and delivery vehicles. • Can the proposer ensure that no damage will occur to nearby property during construction works? • How would toxic gases be retained within the containers should a fire or explosion occur? And what safety precautions would be in place to allow personnel to access the container during such an event without releasing toxic gases into the environment? • It appears that the operating and safety aspects are based upon a specific type of battery which may differ from the battery system to be used. • It is not clear from the noise impact report whether the noise levels generated from the facility are based upon a single battery system operating individually, or at worse all five systems operating at the same time? POLICY ISSUES South Lakeland Core Strategy (CS): 27. Policy CS1.1 Sustainable development principles states that it is vital to protect the countryside for its intrinsic beauty, diversity and natural resources. It refers to the need to grow the local economy in a sustainable way, fostering local business development and rural diversification. 28. Policy CS7.4 relates to supporting the economic needs of the rural economy with reference to the diversification of the agricultural economy.