PWA has supported Sandbrook Capital BES Ltd in securing planning approval for a new battery energy storage facility in Lathom, West Lancashire, that will provide enough to power roughly 15,000 homes a year.
Working once again on behalf of Sandbrook Capital BES Ltd, our energy planning team submitted plans to West Lancashire Borough Council for the 400MWh system on land off Spa Lane, known locally as the former Avondale Nursery site.
The project, which gained approval at committee, will connect at 85MW (170MWh) and will provide flexible capacity to support the resilience of the electricity network and enable greater integration of renewable energy.
The system will be contained within a secure compound that includes 66 battery containers and associated infrastructure.
Although the site lies within designated Green Belt land, the local planning authority concluded that the policy balance supported approval in light of the wider need for energy storage and the scheme’s proposed mitigation and local benefits.
Local benefits will include the creation of jobs during the construction phase and ecological enhancements such as wildflower planting, hedgerow improvements and habitat creation to deliver a net gain for biodiversity.
Graeme Thorpe, associate at PWA Planning, said: “It’s great to have once again helped our long-term client bring forward another significant energy storage project that will support the UK’s clean energy transition.
“The decision reflects the council’s recognition of the importance of large-scale battery storage and the role these schemes play in improving the resilience of our energy network. We’re proud to help deliver a project that contributes to national net zero objectives and offers benefits to the local community.”
The facility will be operational for 40 years before being decommissioned.