New energy facility with the ability to power 20,000 homes approved in Bamford

Photo: Rochdale Council planning documents

Energy storage facility planned for Bamford

A new energy storage facility with the ability to power 20,000 homes has been approved by Rochdale Council.

The new 132kV energy substation would be built on a site close to Ashworth Cattery and Waterloo Farm, off Lower Jowkin Lane and Furbarn Road and operated by Shaw-Energi. The development would be connected to the National Grid substation located at Clay Lane via an underground cable.

Planning documents state the facility will be able to provide electricity to approximately 20,000 homes for up to 2 hours. 

The facility will consist of battery storage containers, transformers, invertors, switch rooms and control rooms, drainage, landscaping, and ancillary equipment. As well as the storage facility, access for maintenance vehicles from Lower Jowkin Lane will be created and security fencing, lighting and CCTV provision will be erected.

Full planning permission for a temporary period of 30 years was approved by the council in their decision.

Planning documents read: “It will assist the Government in meeting its legal obligations in relation to achieving a 100 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels by 2050. It will also assist in ensuring enhanced levels of national energy security.”

Shaw-Energi is an engineering and renewable energy project developer based in Merseyside. Their founder and CEO is an international leader in the design, production and installation of Biomass gasification and turnkey biomass-to-energy systems with over 15 years experience in delivering Biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants in the UK and Europe. 

The Green Belt boundary in this area is proposed to be modified by the draft Greater Manchester Places for Everyone Plan which has been the subject of Public Examination. Whilst the application Site would remain in the Green Belt, land to the south is proposed to be removed and allocated for residential development.

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter