Lancaster permits industrial, energy storage facility

AMA FIC’s plans to deliver 27,500 sq ft of industrial space at Heysham Business Park and Hamilton March’s plans for a 100MW innovation hub at Hillside Farm have taken a step forward following approving votes at the city council’s planning committee meeting on Monday.

Heysham Business Park

Application number: 22/01024/FUL

AMA FIC will deliver a gatehouse and four industrial units totalling 27,500 sq ft on the three-acre site off Stalls Road.

Designed by Bate and Taylor Architects, the scheme will see the demolition of the existing gatehouse and two industrial buildings totalling 10,800 sq ft on site to make way for the development.

The new individual units will measure 5,700 sq ft, 6,600 sq ft, 7,200 sq ft, and 8,200 sq ft.

A replacement gatehouse will also be built at the entrance to Heysham Business Park.

Visitors will be provided with 41 car parking spaces, including three accessible and three electric vehicle bays. There will also be eight cycle and four motorcycle spaces.

P4 Planning is the planning consultant for the scheme. The project team also includes landscape architect Urban Green, transport consultant SCP, and environmental consultant E3P.

Hillside Farm

Application number: 22/01317/FUL

Property investment firm Hamilton March can get to work on delivering its 100MW energy storage facility on the seven-acre site off Lancaster Road to provide rapid-response back-up electricity.

Made up of 50 energy storage battery units, the hub will export energy at a rate of up to 50MW per hour with the ability to supply power to the National Grid at this rate for up to two hours.

The facility will work by storing excess energy generated by renewable sources to be exported back into the distribution network during periods of low renewable generation.

Plans will also see two existing farm buildings at Hillside Farm converted to provide 2,900 sq ft office, research, and storage space.

Wind energy consultant The Energy Workshop is advising on planning.