Battery storage facility approved after deferral

A battery storage facility near the Chickerell electrical sub-station has been approved after a decision was deferred in January.

Councillors were told the revised plans for the 24-container scheme were better than a previous application that was rejected last year.

The site will be contained by a 4m-high acoustic fence with two large transformers on the south of the site.

A series of conditions will be negotiated by officers with the developer before the approval is finally signed off – including the future maintenance of the access track and installing CCTV.

Part of the land and access falls within a flood zone and has generated many objections from residents.

The scheme is for a 50MW battery storage project immediately north of the electricity sub-station, with the nearest homes 350m away at Grafton Avenue.

Another large housing scheme has been proposed to the east of Chickerell, 400m from the battery storage site.

A larger 400MW battery storage site for another company, Statera, was approved in July last year for a site to the immediate west.

A previous application was rejected, against officer advice, due to fears over fire safety and the risk of contamination to water sources in the event of a fire.

Developer Weymouth Battery Limited said the latest scheme had better fire detection and fire suppressant methods.

On site there would be five large tanks capable of storing 250,000 litres of water, available to Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service.

The scheme has also been slimmed down from 60 to 50MW, capable of providing power for 19,500 homes.

Agent for the developers Philip Duncan said the company acknowledged the public concern, but said many of the claims made against it were not evidence-based.

He said engagement with the police, fire service and others had not met with any objections.

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