Permission granted for battery boxes on sites covering 50 acres around Bicker

Plans for three Battery Energy Storage Systems taking up a total of 50 acres of land have been approved.

The separate schemes, from separate applicants, have all been given the green light to run from sites in the Bicker area - despite objections from locals.

FRV Powertek were given permission to build a 400-megawatt Battery Energy Storage System on 25 acres of farmland off Vicarage Drove at Bicker Fen by Boston Borough Council’s Planning Committee.

Vicarage Drove BESS Ltd can now build a BESS on 10 acres of land south east of Vicarage Drove at Bicker Bar.

This has been described in the committee report as being ‘rough grassland’.

Fellow applicant Net Zero Twenty Two Ltd have been given the all-clear to build a BESS on 16 acres of agricultural land north of Bicker Drove.

The decisions were referred to BBC’s planning committee ‘so that there is transparency on all of the applications’.

All three applications received objections from local residents.

Concerns raised included road infrastructure being unsuitable, continued disruption and the destruction of Bicker Fen.

Other points raised stated that the area has reached saturation point and development would be better on brownfield sites, also that the countryside should be for leisure pursuits and enhancing physical and mental health.

A ward member also objected to the Vicarage Drove BESS application on transport terms, stating: “The use of these small villages roads is unacceptable and Cowbridge Road is being used for nearly all the new energy projects construction.

“This is harming my residents along the road health and unsustainable and unfair to Bicker Fen residents.”

Bicker Parish Council also raised concerns about all three applications regarding construction traffic in the area.

Battery Energy Storage Systems store excess energy during periods of high energy and supply it during periods of demand.