Controversial plans for an energy storage system on agricultural land in north Derbyshire have been approved by councillors, despite objections from villagers.

An application for a Battery Energy Storage System at Hallgate Farm, Hallgate Lane, Pilsley, submitted by an agent acting for Enray Power Ltd, has been passed by North East Derbyshire District Council.

The MIlner family, who have farmed the land for nearly a century, said in a letter to the council: “Farming is essential to national food security, but small family farms like ours face increasing pressure from volatile markets, rising input costs, extreme weather, and changing subsidies. It is becoming harder each year to remain viable.

“To help address these challenges, we are diversifying. The income from this development will support the long-term sustainability of our farm— allowing us to continue producing food, invest in modern practices, and maintain local employment.”

Application site at Hallgate Farm, Pilsley is outlined in red.

placeholder image — Application site at Hallgate Farm, Pilsley is outlined in red.

The proposed site if difficult to farm because it was formerly opencast mine. The letter from the Milners read: “The land selected for the development is less productive than the rest of the holding and has been carefully chosen to minimise impacts on both agriculture and biodiversity.”

Objections to the scheme were submitted to the district authority by Pilsley Parish Council, based on comments from residents and stakeholders. Public safety was highlighted in the parish council’s submission which stated that Lithium ion BESS installations are recognised nationally as posing a potential risk of thermal runaway, fire, and explosion. These risks would be heightened by the proximity to residential areas and to Park House Primary School.

The school, which is based on Rupert Street, had formally raised concerns that its primary emergency evacuation route would be directly compromised in the event of an incident at the proposed facility, posing an unacceptable risk to children, particularly those with respiratory vulnerabilities. A district council officer’s report to NE Derbyshire’s planning committee said that the proposal would not impact Rupert Street or the adjacent Bridge Street.

Residents had raised concern about road safety for pedestrians and schoolchildren. The parish council said that the access arrangements were unclear in the proposal, particularly in relation to heavy construction traffic and future maintenance vehicles.

The parish council stated that residents and key stakeholders (including Park House Primary School) were not adequately consulted prior to submission, despite the significant risks involved. Letters were sent only to residents' close to the site, despite this being a development that would have impact for the whole community. Only through the parish council’s intervention was a public meeting called.

Villagers were also concerned about low-frequency noise arising from the proposed development, which could significantly affect local amenity. The parish council wrote that the application did not provide adequate detail regarding noise levels, vibration, or potential disturbance from cooling systems, transformers, or other associated infrastructures.

Barn owls and other protected species have their habitats on the site and its surrounding area. The submission from the parish council read that insufficient ecological assessment had been provided, contrary to the requirement to safeguard nature conservation interests and biodiversity opportunities.

Cllr Kevin Gillott, who represents Pilsley on the district council, requested that the application be considered by NE Derbyshire’s planning committee because the proposed development involved a substantial intrusion into the countryside.

The district council officer’s report to the committee stated that 13 residents had opposed the application raising a number of concerns including fire safety, thermal runaway, toxic fumes, and inadequate mitigation measures for contamination and plume risk, harmful wellbeing to residents and visual harm to the countryside.

Support from 25 residents included comments that the proposed development would be located away from homes/residential properties and sensitive receptors; the development is temporary and reversible; the scheme supports grid stability and energy storage for peak demand; the tallest structure is 7m next to a 30m pylon so compatible with site.

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