New energy storage system plans for Letchmore Heath site

Undeveloped green belt land between Elstree Substation, near Bushey, and the Bhaktivedanta Manor, had been earmarked for a 405-container battery energy storage system (BESS).

The planning application sparked backlash when it was initially submitted last October, but never got an official decision and so is still pending consideration.

Illustrative layout of the scheme as initially proposed. (Image: Hertsmere Borough Council planning portal/M2 Planning) The original designs have since been replaced on the planning portal with updated documents significantly reducing the proposed area of development.

Instead of 400 battery storage containers, 181 are now proposed, while the number of inverter units proposed has dropped from 101 to 58.

According to the applicant Chiltern Green Energy: “Whilst it was initially necessary to propose approximately 400 batteries to manage the 400MW capacity of the site, improved battery technology has meant that the same capacity can now be managed by less than 200 batteries.”

Hertsmere Borough Council planning portal/M2 Planning. (Image: Hertsmere Borough Council planning portal/M2 Planning) Because the built area has been reduced, biodiversity has been given a boost in turn, with 9,000 trees to be planted instead of 4,500 and the number of shrubs has risen from 23,000 to 39,000.

In new documents Chiltern Green Energy acknowledged that residents “and many connected with Bhaktivedanta Manor from around the world” have raised concerns.

It said that, in response, the application is supported by documents that address the matters raised and amendments have been made in response to feedback.

According to the application: “BESS are devices that enable energy, including from sources such as solar and wind, to be stored and then released when the power is needed most.”

This helps renewable sources of energy keep powering homes “even when the sun isn’t shining, or the wind has stopped blowing”.

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The system itself would then be open-air, with road surrounding blocks of batteries and woodland planted to limit the visual impact.

As an outline application, the reserved details would have to be approved via a separate application before any work could go ahead.

The Hertsmere Borough Council planning portal shows that there have been 2,675 objections and six supporting comments made so far in response to the application.