A power generation firm is hoping to build an energy storage facility in South Lakeland.
Energi Generation has submitted an environmental impact assessment screening request to Westmorland and Furness Council and the matter is under consideration by planning officials.
It is for a site on land at Town House Farm in Old Hutton, near Kendal, and the facility proposed is a 250 MW Battery Energy Storage System.
The development would also include and access track, substation, grid connection route and associated infrastructure.
According to a submitted report the site is 960m north of Old Hutton and 1km to the east of Middleshaw with Kendal as the nearest large settlement being 3.8km to the west.
The layout design would include what are described as standard elements for a scheme of this nature including a 400/33kv substation, batteries and power conversion system storage, a switch room, a control room and an office.
The report states: “The proposal will be designed to minimise any impact on the surrounding landscape and character of the area and will incorporate biodiversity enhancement spaces into the scheme.
“This will be achieved through retention of hedgerows and the creation of wildlife grassland, thereby improving the existing landscape features in and around the site.
“These measures will be explored in greater detail in collaboration with the council throughout the pre-application process.
“The development will have a lifespan of approximately 40 years. At the end of the useful life of the facility, it will be decommissioned, and all the associated equipment will be removed. The land in question can then return to grazing in connection with the existing agricultural business.”
The report concludes that there would be no significant effect on the environment resulting from the proposal and, in that respect, an environmental impact assessment would not be required and the applicant has asked the council to confirm this.
It states: “The proposed site is not positioned within or adjacent to any sensitive areas as defined in the 2017 regulations.
“The forthcoming planning application will be supported by a comprehensive suite of technical surveys and reports, in full accordance with the council’s validation checklists.
“Consequently, we will be able to ensure that all potential impacts are assessed in full and adequately mitigated where appropriate.”
