Rossendale refuses Scout Moor energy storage
Cubico Sustainable Investments’ plan to install a battery energy storage system on 15 acres of Green Belt off Rochdale Road close to the wind farm has suffered a setback after the local authority moved to reject the plan.
Councillors deemed the BESS as a threat to Green Belt, in addition to raising more minor concerns around access and road safety.
The BESS would store energy from both the National Grid and the nearby Scout Moor wind farm with a capacity of 85MW.
Surplus power would then be released to the electricity grid for consumption during times of under-production from renewables, reducing reliance on fossil fuels to pick up the slack.
In its application, Cubico insisted the proposed development would meet the threshold for “very special circumstances” required to justify development in the Green Belt in the National Planning Policy Framework.
Cubico stated the application would “support the achievement of legal obligations and policy goals related to climate change and national energy security”.
Before the development management committee held on 2 September, Rossendale Council was told a call-in request had been received by the Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government.
As a result, a holding direction was issued, meaning approval could not be granted without a decision from the Secretary of State.
The application was subsequently rejected by the committee anyway, meaning the Whitehall did not need to give permission.
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A spokesperson for Cubico told Place North West: “We acknowledge the decision by Rossendale Council to refuse our application.
“While we are disappointed by the outcome, we will take time to carefully review the reasons given by members.
“We remain committed to working constructively with the council, local communities, and stakeholders to explore how best to deliver the energy security, environmental improvements, and economic opportunities this project can bring to Rossendale.”
Scout Moor wind farm is currently the second largest onshore wind farm in the country – however, Cubico plans the £200m Scout Moor Two, which is currently under consideration, to surpass it when complete.
To view the application, use the planning reference number 2024/0501 on Rossendale Council’s planning portal.
