Councillors welcome plans for six battery boxes to South Holland to be sited in Spalding, Holbeach and Gosberton
Six battery boxes will appear across South Holland after councillors gave the scheme the thumbs up.
These micro energy storage facilities hold electricity from periods of low demand or high generation to be stored for periods of peak usage or high demand.
They will be placed at sights around the area after South Holland District Council’s planning committee gave the scheme their seal of approval at Wednesday’s (September 5) meeting.
“We are currently working with over 40 local authorities across the UK to build identical schemes with the intention of building a nationwide network,” Ben Wallace, head of development for applicant AMP Clean Energy, told the chamber.
“We are surrounded by infrastructure that allows us to live our lives; substations, telephone kiosks, gas kiosks and 4G towers.
“All of this infrastructure is integrated into our urban environment to provide homes with electricity, water and telecommunications.
“But increasingly we need a new type of structure to service the changing society, particularly one on a journey to net zero.”
The battery boxes, which have 30-year lifespans, will be placed on council-owned land at Holbeach Road, Parkside Crescent, The Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field on Winfrey Avenue and the Castle Sports Complex on Albion Street in Spalding.
Other boxes will be placed on land at Whitehall/Belchmire Lane in Gosberton and at Boston Road, Holbeach.
Coun Thomas Sneath described the project as ‘very much my bag’.
“Store it rather than produce it, it’s far better,” he said.
“This gives us a little extra shove when we need it and I think that’s a great idea.”
However, Coun Sneath questioned whether what protection battery boxes had from impact of vehicles.
“We all know lithium batteries don’t like being hit,” he said.
“We wouldn’t like to have any accidents, batteries exploding, things like that.
“It’s very unlikely this will happen but it is a question that will be asked.”
Planning officers responded that conditions weren’t required on a ‘massive range of developments that could all be hit by careering cars’, such as petrol stations and restaurants.
Coun Paul Redgate said it was ‘great to see some investment coming to the area and providing something a lot more sustainable’.
He was told landscaping plans would be in place after asking how the council could make the boxes look more ‘presentable’ with fencing and hedgerows.
Also welcoming the scheme was Coun Gary Taylor, who raised concerns about a recent spate of graffiti in the town spreading to these battery boxes.
“Maybe residents could have some assurance?” he asked.
Each unit will be situated adjacent to existing utilities infrastructure, such as electricity substations or pumping stations.
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