Lower Penn Parish Council (LPPC) 2 October 2025
BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) Factsheets Fact Sheet 7
Introduction – Further to Fact Sheet 6 published last month, construction work has now started on the Holly Bush pub and Penstone Lane sites. Construction has also started on the Flash Lane BESS site on our border with Wombourne. It’s early days yet residents are urged to be wary of Construction traffic.
Dimmingsdale was approved at the SSDC meeting on June 17, so far there are no signs of construction work starting, we will keep you informed.
A lot of concern is still being received from residents about the other BESS development at the junction of Market Lane and Langley Road. Again, we will keep you informed. We are currently not aware of any other BESS applications in our Parish; many residents have commented that we have enough already.
Communication – A lot of communication has been taking place on Facebook including a presentation from our MP, Mike Wood, in which he highlights the risks (fire, environment etc) of BESS installations and the work he is undertaking in Westminster to raise awareness and urge the Government to develop alternative approaches to Green Energy.
Further BESS issues under discussion on social media have been the potential harm to our water sources, known as Aquifers. In the event of Lithium contaminating these sources if could affect our water, uncertainty on these issues prevails and we need to be more convinced. The concept of ‘Cumulative Effect’ where too many BESS installations are established is under review, likewise Noise and Bats. Interestingly, many of the major organisations (eg Shell / BP) investing in Green Energy are now withdrawing their support and looking into alternative strategies.
Planning / Legal advice was appointed on 15 August Hannah Barter of Urban Vision Enterprise (www.uvecic.co.uk ) – initial planning advice is now drafted. UVE progress and planned activity will be reported at the LPPC monthly meetings.
Market Lane BESS application – planning reference 24/01102/FULM … this link will take you to the details on Public Access and then please see
https://planning.sstaffs.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SOYFNXOXLAI00
Langley Road site visit – LPPC have approached the operators of the Langley Road BESS site, and a site visit is being planned once the commissioning phase has finished.
Further Communication – BESS Fact Sheets 1-6 are posted on LPPC website https://lowerpenn-pc.gov.uk ie please see this if you wish to reference these documents? We are planning to publish BESS Fact Sheet 8 in November. BESS developments in our Parish will be discussed at the LPPC meetings going forward in Victory Hall, every first Thursday in the month starting at 7.15pm. Members of the public are very welcome, there is an item on the agenda for any questions.
| If you do have any comments or concerns, then please contact us ie Lower Penn Parish Council at Clerk@lowerpenn-pc.gov.uk |