COUNCILLORS and residents have blasted plans to build a new energy storage centre in a woodland area of Basingstoke.

Plans have been submitted to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council by environmental consultants Enzygo, on behalf of Camborne Energy Storage (CES), to build a battery energy storage site in the woods in Carpenters Down, Popley.

The 15 megawatt (MW) facility would draw energy from the National Grid when demand is high and low, it would store the energy and then release it when required.

However the plans have been met with fierce criticism.
Popley East ward councillor, Cllr Janet Westbrook said: “We believe the proposed application is in conflict with the Local Plan and parts of the National Planning Policy Framework.

“The site is not remote and is an integral part of a wider woodland.

“We understand the concept of storing energy resources in this way but this is the wrong site for this together with the considerable disturbance to the area caused by cabling.

“We will be pleased to know that a full ecological survey has been completed and wish to be informed of developments regarding the application.”

Cllr Westbrook added: “We wish to submit our objections to the planning application.”

If accepted the plans would include building two new switch rooms, three shipping containers to house the battery cells and five inverter units.

Building on the woodland has also been slammed by local residents.

Anne Togher, 65, said: “I’m really unhappy that only a few know about this because a lot of people use those woods for walking. 

“They talk about putting a building in there, which would be an access building, so people would work there and when the schools are open the traffic would be rammed down the whole of Carpenters Down.

“There’s not the infrastructure to have something like this down there. Nobody objects to building storage containers, it’s just there are better spaces to put them.”

She added: “My gripe is that they say this storage is eco-friendly. Trees were the first eco-friendly thing we have – without trees we all die.

“So to cut them down, destroy the beautiful wild playground where children can climb and run, people can walk would be terrible. 

“Once the woods are gone, they’re gone.”

The proposed area is owned by the Forestry Commission which has confirmed the land could be used for energy storage. 

Rory Clark MRICS, area land agent for the Forestry Commission, said: “CES was awarded the contract to identify and develop such battery energy storage facilities.

“Forestry Commission land at Carpenters Down has been identified by CES as having a viable access to a nearby sub-station with confirmed capacity to accommodate a battery energy storage facility.”

A spokesperson for Enzygo said: “The proposed low carbon development will be developed in line and in accordance with all local and national planning regulations. 

“We understand that Carpenters Down provides an important facility for the local community, and we seek to assure the community that given the small scale of the development, the minimal impacts, and the mitigation measures put in place, we see no reason for the development not to go ahead.”

BDBC’s planning and development manager, Mike Townsend said: “The application for a battery energy storage facility is currently being considered by the council’s planning team as part of the normal planning application process which includes consideration of any representation received from residents and consultees.”

What do you think of the plans?

Let us know by emailing newsdesk@basingstokegazette.co.uk.