Green Belt land near a former colliery in Stoke-on-Trent is set to become a battery energy storage site.

The two-acre site off Whitfield Lane, on the northern edge of the city, will store enough electricity to serve more than 140,000 homes for two hours if needed.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's planning committee gave the green light for the facility on land next to the former Chatterley Whitfield Colliery at a meeting on Wednesday (August 23). Members previously deferred the decision in June after concerns were raised about its impact on the area's heritage.

Planning permission was granted in 2017 for installation of 10 standby gas powered generator sets and associated equipment on land next to Chatterley Whitfield Enterprise Centre. The latest application is for the siting of 258 small modular units which would each house batteries, 32 identical modules which would control the batteries, 32 inverters and electrical transformers, a substation structure and security fencing.

Andy Brand, who spoke in support of the application at the previous meeting, said: "It is a fundamental part of infrastructure as we move towards net zero. It enables energy to be stored and homes and businesses can be run on green energy regardless of whether the sun is shining or the wind is blowing.

"It can help to enhance energy security and reduce energy costs. The National Grid have confirmed there is a need for 13GW energy storage by 2030 and there is an urgent need for this type of facility.

"The council will be contributing towards tackling climate change. And it will also be supporting a move towards a more secure supply of energy, reducing prices in the energy market."

Council planning officers recommended the application, submitted by Chatterley Energy Storage Limited, for approval. A report to the committee said: "It is now agreed by both the applicant's heritage consultant and the city council's heritage consultant that there is no heritage harm from the proposals to be mitigated.

"The proposal is considered to be contrary to the development plan given the location within the defined Green Belt. In this case it is considered that the applicant has demonstrated very special circumstances, which outweigh the harm to the openness of the Green Belt."

But ward councillor and committee member Dave Evans said on Wednesday: "My community would view the application very differently to the officers. In their minds they would lose some of their identity – in my view and in theirs they are going to disbenefit.

"I get why these things are important; we have got to be greener if we want to succeed as a country. That all makes sense to me.

"That being said, it does have a detrimental effect on the Green Belt. I think that's a significant problem for me and it's a very difficult conversation we have to have."

Councillor Andy Platt said "If this is the only facility (in the area) that can take this storage then I think that balance has to be in favour of the site. This is the right location and it doesn't do damage to the heritage; at the moment it is a big field.

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