Cambridge Power has secured planning permission for a 50MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Newcastle upon Tyne, north-east England.

The currently derelict site in Lemington will see “distinct improvements” provided as part of the scheme put forward by the developer. These enhancements will provide heritage and biodiversity benefits.

Cambridge Power has committed to repairs to the Old Manager’s Cottage, a listed building at the former ironworks. Information boards and access to the site for heritage groups will also be brought forward as part of the scheme.

In addition to this, biodiversity enhancements, in excess of 10%, will also be provided by way of new tree and scrub planting and grassland.

While the planning permission has been issued, frustrations remain around the revised grid connection date offered by National Grid of 2036, a delay to the project of 13 years from the original date of 2023.

National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) has begun reassessing and remodelling the connection times for contracted low-carbon energy projects in the transmission queue, which is to be implemented by March 2024.

It is hoped that part of this plan will see BESS developers such as Cambridge Power offered an interim option for their projects to connect to the network sooner, but this may come with a caveat that they may need to turn off more frequently when the system is under stress without initially being paid to do so.