Keadby: Battery storage plans approved despite residents' concerns

A battery energy storage site has been approved, despite local opposition.

The five-acre facility will be created on land off Chapel Lane in Keadby, North Lincolnshire, near an existing power station.

Some residents, along with councillors, had opposed the plans, citing concerns around traffic, noise and safety.

However, North Lincolnshire Council's planning committee unanimously approved the scheme on Thursday following assurances from Harmony Energy UK.

Battery energy storage allows renewable energy, like solar and wind, to be stored and then released when the power is needed most.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Frances Nicholson, development director at Harmony Energy UK, was clear cooling fans - the only part of the facility which will create noise - would only operate at certain times of the day.

Objector Susan Chapman, who lives directly opposite the site with her partner, spoke at the planning meeting. She said they and other Chapel Lane residents were worried about the the proximity of the site to housing.

She said: "We do not want to be worried about the risks this would bring. We do not want to have to listen to the whirring of cooling fans 24 hours a day, we want to be able to hear birds singing."

Equipment on site will comprise 56 high efficiency battery energy storage system (BESS) units, housed in 10ft-tall (3m) individual containers. There will also be 28 transformer units, measuring 11ft-tall (3.5m), and other associated equipment, the tallest of which will be 23ft-tall (7m).

The BESS units will be screened with acoustic fence and the site will be secured with CCTV and thermal imaging monitoring equipment, the applicants said.

Defending the scheme, Ms Nicholson said Humberside Fire and Rescue Service had been consulted twice and had not raised any objections.

Addressing traffic concerns, she added: "Once operational, the site will only be visited a couple of times a month."

The company also agreed to complete a traffic survey at Chapel Lane and address any concerns.

Ms Nicholson added the facility "aligns with local and national level aspirations to achieve net zero".

Peter Kavanagh, Harmony Energy's chief's executive, said safety is one of the company's "core values", adding there had been no fire incidents recorded at any of the company's other sites.

He added battery storage installations not only displace carbon use, but also provide energy security.

Axholme North ward councillor Julie Reed had urged the planning committee to refuse permission for the facility. 

She said: "I can understand why people feel nervous and they worry about large installations of this size."

Committee member Councillor John Davison said traffic concerns had mostly addressed by the applicant. He said if the council was to refuse permission the decision it is likely it would be overturned on appeal.

He said: "Sorry to the residents, but I don't think we've got any option but to approve."

The installation will provide additional power to the grid during times of high demand. Construction must occur within eight years, the company was told.

Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]