Councillors have approved plans to construct a battery storage facility near the North Lanarkshire village of Cleland
Starlight Energy was the applicant which proposed building a battery storage compound on a 2.2 hectare site currently used for sheep.
Despite the rural location the area is considered residual land as it is 250 metres from Newarthill Industrial Estate.
The secure compound would mainly consist of 20 metal shipping containers placed on concrete plinths surrounded by fencing and covered by CCTV equipment, while also having a new access track and parking spaces.
It is a battery energy storage (BESS) system designed to store energy and minimise the chances of outages in the local power grid.
No objections to the planning application were received by North Lanarkshire Council and a report to the planning committee recommended granting it, subject to a list of 23 conditions intended to preserve the amenity of the area, traffic safety and ensuring decommissioning of the facility is carried out in an environmentally responsible manner.
