Battery storage site approved despite objections

Plans to build a battery storage system at a site near Rotherham have been approved, despite objections from local residents.

The applicants, Root-Power South, said the facility next to the M1 in Brinsworth would help store up to 40 MW of energy to support the national grid and improve energy sustainability.

While the proposal received four letters of support, 45 letters of objection were sent to Rotherham Council, including concerns from Brinsworth Parish Council, while a petition with 75 signatures against the plan was also submitted.

However, a meeting of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council's planning board on Thursday gave the go-ahead to the plans.

The site, currently used for equestrian purposes, is located between Brinsworth Road and the M1.

Councillors heard that the facility would include five battery clusters, transformers, a site office, a substation, parking spaces, water tanks, and safety equipment, all surrounded by a 10ft (3m) high fence and a noise barrier.

During the meeting, Edward James, on behalf of the applicant, told the board that such schemes could reduce energy bills for customers.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr James told councillors the site was a "good location for this type of development".

"Energy storage improves the efficiency of existing energy production facilities, notably from renewables, where production is intermittent and based on external conditions," he said.

"They will also prevent blackouts during peak demand or supply shortages, improve the UK's energy security supply, and, over time, reduce electricity bills for customers."

Mr James added that the site, though green space, met the radius requirement from the substation.

Objecting, resident Caroline Bennett called on the board to reject the plans, telling the meeting: "We've got precious little green space in Brinsworth."

"The proposed site is also situated close to local housing, and Brinsworth Academy is located close by," she said.

"There is also a fire risk. Lithium-ion battery fires are extremely difficult to extinguish and release harmful chemicals."

Ms Bennett cited the example of a fire in 2020 at a battery storage site in Liverpool which she said took two days to extinguish, "and while it was burning, it released toxic chemicals into the neighbourhood".

She also pointed to a potential risk of closing the nearby M1 in case of a fire.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service had previously stressed the importance of fire safety measures, detailed emergency plans and fire suppression systems on the site.

Another resident, Mrs Hughes, told councillors that residents felt they were being "squeezed out" of the area by industrial use.

"We feel we already have to contend with the ever increasing air, noise and traffic pollution from the M1, the parkway, and the numerous existing neighbouring industrial sites that affect our health and wellbeing."

Planner Emma Ottewell said a noise assessment had concluded that with the installation of an acoustic fence around the site, noise from the facility should be "limited to no decibels above background noise".

Councillors were told that site was planned to be operational for 40 years before being restored to its original state.

The proposals were approved following a vote.

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