A proposed battery energy storage facility in woodland near Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, is expected to receive the green light from councillors despite facing opposition from residents and environmental groups.
Root-Power (North), a Salford-based company, has submitted plans to Hyndburn Council for a 60-megawatt Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on land at Knuzden Moss Farm, located off Stanhill Road near the M65 and Lottice Brook. The proposal will be reviewed by the council’s planning committee on Wednesday.
The project has drawn 38 formal objections, with concerns raised about potential harm to moorland, increased traffic and road safety issues, and risks to local wildlife including bats.
If approved, the plant would store electricity in large batteries and release it back into the National Grid during peak demand periods. The council’s planning officers have recommended the scheme be approved, subject to 21 conditions. These include a 40-year operational limit (or until the site stops supplying energy), and measures to protect local wildlife such as amphibians, hedgehogs, and birds, as well as emergency response and safety protocols.
The planning report notes that energy storage facilities play a crucial role in the UK’s move toward renewable energy, helping to stabilize supply as reliance on low-carbon sources increases. While the local community won’t directly benefit from discounted energy, the development supports national infrastructure and the broader transition to green energy.
