City Centre Expansion: New Battery Storage Facility Approvals Announced

The land close to Bradford city centre remains vacant, but plans have been approved to construct a new battery storage site just outside of it.

Last year, Max Midland Road Bess submitted a planning application for an energy storage facility on empty land between Valley Road and the rail line heading towards Bradford Forster Square. The proposal calls for the installation of 36 battery storage units along with 18 Power Conversion System (PCS) units at the site.

Battery energy storage sites store power generated from renewable sources such as solar and wind, releasing it when necessary. According to a spokesperson for Max Midland Road Bess, these plants are essential because “Renewable power sources such as wind and solar are heavily reliant on climatic conditions. They can be intermittent and as a result do not always supply a consistent energy source.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has been informed that planning officers at Bradford Council have approved the proposed development, which will take place on an undeveloped site currently covered in Japanese Knotweed. The proposal’s industrial nature is acknowledged, but it is considered appropriate due to the mix of uses in the wider area.

The batteries are expected to remain operational for 40 years according to a spokesperson from Max Midland Road Bess. While plans have been approved, some locals have expressed concerns about the impact on their communities and environment.