This application was reported to committee as it relates to development of land owned by Brentwood Borough Council.

 

This application relates to the installation of a 49.9MW battery energy storage system and associated infrastructure. Access to the site would be achieved direct from Wash Road, via the existing access to the substation site, it would then run along the northern boundary with the main body of the site to the rear (east) of the substation. The overall site area is 2.18 hectares, with the area proposed for the two battery compounds and the substation compounds being 4900 sqm (0.49 hectares) plus a temporary construction compound of 1880sqm. The northern battery compound and the substation

compounds would be separated by the line of existing overhead lines from the southern battery compound by a gap of 13 m widening at the west end.

The site currently forms part of the Hutton Country Park which covers an area of 36 hectares. Of this approximately 11 hectares is to the north of the railway line, with the remainder to the south. The site to the north of the application site is open land, with the River Wid and Hunts Farm beyond, to the east by open land, to the south is the Shenfield to Billericay railway line section, to the west by Shenfield Electrical Substation with Wash Road beyond. There are no formal public rights of way on the application site shown on the definitive highway map, though currently the site is open allowing people to roam.

The development proposes:

 

• 28 steel containers, each approximately 12.2m long, 2.44m wide, and 3.3m in height (including foundations) from ground level; dark green in colour

• The containers would be arranged in two lines of 14 units, each group contained by 2.1 m high fencing

• A steel transformer would be located between each container (28 in total), 2.59m in height from ground level, and as such do not exceed the height of the containers;

• Three Power Conversion System (PCS) cabinets would be sited next to each container (1.3m long, 1.5 wide, 2.6m tall on foundations);

• it is proposed to erect a 3m high acoustic fence immediately to the north of each of the two rows of containers

• Two 'customer substations' measuring 6m in length, 2m in width and 2.8m in height from ground level;

• A 132kV substation compound with ancillary Distribution Network Operator (DNO) substation structure approx. 3.95 high coloured green.

• The site area of the 132kV substation compound is approx 725sqm and adjacent to that would be DNO structure. The DNO Substation control room building would be

13m in length, 5m in width and 3.95m in height.The apparatus at the 132kV

substation would be enclosed by palisade fencing between 1.8m and 2.4m in height, with the apparatus measuring between 3.43 and 5.54m.

• At the east end would be a1275sqm attenuation pond

 

A security system using infra red sensors on 1200mm posts would be within the permitter fencing and would not involve artificial light, noise or CCTV.

A landscaping strategy includes the planting of trees, hedges and wildflower mix, the creation of additional scrubland, and ecological improvements to the pond. The Energy Storage System (ESS) would be painted to reduce its effect on its surroundings, with the equipment being predominantly painted dark green.

 

Permission is sought for 40 years, after which all the equipment would be removed from the site and the ground made good.

 

Mr Mike Ovenden presented the report.

 

Mr David Woods was present at the meeting and addressed the committee objecting to the application.

 

Ms Sarah Hitchcox, from Anesco attended the meeting on behalf of the Applicant, and spoke supporting the application.

 

The Chair and Ward Councillor, Cllr Cloke, also spoke in favour of the application.

 

Following debate a motion was MOVED by Cllr Barber and SECONDED by Cllr Bridge to APPROVE the application.

 

A vote was taken and Members voted as follows:

 

FOR: Cllrs Barber, Dr Barrett, Bridge, Cloke, Gelderbloem, Heard, Laplain, Tanner and Wiles (9)

 

AGAINST: (0)

 

ABSTAIN:  Cllrs Cuthbert and Mynott (2)

 

Members APPROVED the application subject to the following conditions:

 

Planning conditions for permission

1          Standard time limit for commencement

The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

Reason: To comply with Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended by Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2          In accordance with approved documents

The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out except in complete accordance with the approved drawing(s) listed above and specifications.

Reason: To ensure that the development is as permitted by the local planning authority and for the avoidance of doubt.

 

3          Temporary period – 40 years – and removal

No later than 40 years from the date of this permission, all buildings, hardstandings, access tracks, walls/fences/gates, containers, chattels, plant and related equipment on the site shall be permanently removed, together with all waste materials resulting from such removal, from the site and the land returned to grassland. Furthermore, if the use as described in the application permanently cease before that time then the site clearance and restoration shall occur within 28 days of that cessation occurring, or other period as may be previously agreed in writing by the local planning authority.

Reason: The applicant requested a 40 years permission and this permission is only granted on the basis that the benefits of the proposal represent very special circumstances and if they cease to exist the justification to the harm to the greenbelt would be removed. To remove that harm the development shall be removed.

4          Construction Management Plan

No development shall take place, including any ground works or demolition, until a Construction Management Plan has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority. The approved Statement shall be adhered to throughout the construction period. The Statement shall provide for:

i. Suitable construction vehicle routes for all construction vehicles, to be agreed with the Highway Authority.

ii. the parking of vehicles of site operatives and visitors

iii. loading and unloading of plant and materials

iv. storage of plant and materials used in constructing the development

v. wheel and underbody washing facilities

Reason: To ensure that the construction traffic is managed and to ensure that onstreet parking of these vehicles in the adjoining streets does not occur and to ensure that loose materials and spoil are not brought out onto the highway in the interests of highway safety.

5          Landscaping scheme

No development shall take place until a scheme of hard and soft landscaping has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.  The submitted scheme shall indicate the existing trees shrubs and hedgerows to be retained, the precise route of the ‘access route’ and any trees/hedges required to be removed to create it, the location, species and size of all new trees, shrubs and hedgerows to be planted or transplanted, those areas to be grassed and/or paved.  The landscaping scheme shall include details of all surfacing materials and existing and proposed ground levels.  The landscaping scheme shall be completed during the first planting season after the date on which any part of the development is commenced or in accordance with a programme to be agreed in writing by the local planning authority.  Any newly planted tree, shrub or hedgerow or any existing tree, shrub or hedgerow to be retained, that dies, or is uprooted, severely damaged or seriously diseased, within five years of the completion of the development, shall be replaced within the next planting season with another of the same species and of a similar size, unless the local planning authority gives prior written consent to any variation.

Reason:  In order to safeguard and enhance the character and appearance of the area.

6          SUDS condition 1

No works except demolition shall takes place until a detailed surface water drainage scheme for the site, based on sustainable drainage principles and an assessment of the hydrological and hydro geological context of the development, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The scheme should include but not be limited to:

• Verification of the suitability of infiltration of surface water for the development.

This should be based on infiltration tests that have been undertaken in accordance with BRE 365 testing procedure and the infiltration testing methods

found in chapter 25.3 of The CIRIA SuDS Manual C753.

• If infiltration is not viable then the drainage scheme should be shown to be limiting discharge rates to 1l/s for all storm events up to and including the 1 in 100 year rate plus 40% allowance for climate change. All relevant permissions to discharge from the site into any outfall should be demonstrated.

• Provide sufficient storage to ensure no off site flooding as a result of the development during all storm events up to and including the 1 in 100 year plus 40% climate change event.

• Demonstrate that all storage features can half empty within 24 hours for the 1 in 30 plus 40% climate change critical storm event.

• Final modelling and calculations for all areas of the drainage system.

• The appropriate level of treatment for all runoff leaving the site, in line with the Simple Index Approach in chapter 26 of the CIRIA SuDS Manual C753.

• Detailed engineering drawings of each component of the drainage scheme.

• A final drainage plan which details exceedance and conveyance routes, FFL and ground levels, and location and sizing of any drainage features.

• A written report summarising the final strategy and highlighting any minor changes to the approved strategy.

Reason:

• To prevent flooding by ensuring the satisfactory storage of/disposal of surface water from the site.

• To ensure the effective operation of SuDS features over the lifetime of the development.

• To provide mitigation of any environmental harm which may be caused to the local water environment

7          SUDS condition 2

No works shall take place until a scheme to minimise the risk of offsite flooding caused by surface water run-off and groundwater during construction works and prevent pollution has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority. The scheme shall subsequently be implemented as approved.

Reason: The National Planning Policy Framework paragraph 166 and paragraph 174 state that local planning authorities should ensure development does not increase flood risk elsewhere and does not contribute to water pollution. Construction may lead to excess water being discharged from the site. If dewatering takes place to allow for construction to take place below groundwater level, this will cause additional water to be discharged. Furthermore the removal of topsoils during construction may limit the ability of the site to intercept rainfall and may lead to increased runoff rates. To mitigate increased flood risk to the surrounding area during construction there needs to be satisfactory storage of/disposal of surface water and groundwater which needs to be agreed before commencement of the development. Construction may also lead to polluted water being allowed to leave the site. Methods for preventing or mitigating this should be proposed.

8          SUDS condition 3

Prior to first use of the development hereby permitted a detailed maintenance plan detailing the maintenance arrangements including who is responsible for different elements of the surface water drainage system and the maintenance activities/frequencies, has been submitted to and agreed, in writing, by the Local Planning Authority. It should additionally shown that there is a regular and strict maintenance plan in place for the outfall to reduce the risk of blockage.

Should any part be maintainable by a maintenance company, details of long-term funding arrangements should be provided.

Reason: To ensure appropriate maintenance arrangements are put in place to enable the surface water drainage system to function as intended to ensure mitigation against flood risk.

Failure to provide the above required information prior to occupation may result in the installation of a system that is not properly maintained and may increase flood risk or pollution hazard from the site.

9          SUDS condition 4

The applicant or any successor in title shall maintain yearly logs of maintenance which should be carried out in accordance with any approved Maintenance Plan. These must be available for inspection upon a request by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: To ensure the SuDS are maintained for the lifetime of the development as outlined in any approved Maintenance Plan so that they continue to function as intended to ensure mitigation against flood risk.

10        Protected species

The development shall be carried out as follows:

•           Any trenches or deep pits that are to be left open overnight should be provided with a means of escape should a badger enter. This could simply be in the form of a roughened plank of wood in the trench as a ramp to the surface.

•           The storage of topsoil or other 'soft' building materials within the site should be given careful consideration. Badgers will readily adopt such mounds as setts, which would then be afforded the same protection as established setts. So as to avoid the adoption of any mounds, they should be subject to daily inspections before work commences.

•           During the work, the storage of any chemicals should be contained in such a way that they cannot be accessed or knocked over by any roaming badgers.

•           Open pipework with a diameter of more than 120mm should be properly covered at the end of the work day to prevent badgers entering and becoming trapped.

Reason: In the interests of safeguarding protected specifies

11        Security provisions

Prior to the first use of the development, full details of the security systems and physical measures to protect the equipment from damage and discourage unauthorised entry (for example CCTV, fencing and other safety or monitoring systems) shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority and implemented.

Reason: To protect the electrical infrastructure from damage in the interests of safety of users of the country park and to ensure that measures are appropriate to the green belt and rural character of the site.