Plans for Eye Airfield Industrial Estate battery box, off Progress Way, approved

Plans to install an energy storage facility at a town industrial estate have been given the go ahead.

AMP Clean Energy’s proposals for the battery box on a verge off Progress Way, at Eye Airfield, were approved by Mid Suffolk District Council on Friday.

A 200kW energy storage system can now be installed at the site, which will provide a low-carbon, flexible and de-centralised store of power for use when local demand is high, a grant report said.

The unit would be charged using cheap energy at times of low demand.

Eye Town Council did not comment on the plans.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said no additional fire fighting measures were required.

The organisation said the developer was expected to ensure fire risk was minimised by using parts and build methods which are compliant with legislation and guidance.

The battery box will connect to the existing area network and would not be directly connected to nearby solar or wind farms.

It will be 5.95 metres by 2.75 metres in size, and just under two metres high.

It will have fencing around it.

Planners said the application would not cause any harm to highway safety, ecology, residential amenity or drainage.

It was granted subject to conditions on a time limit for the project, adherence to the approved plans, biodiversity enhancement measures and it having no external illuminations.