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A scheme to build a battery storage farm over a former football pitch is back on the cards despite being refused earlier this year. The plan aims to build a battery energy storage system on land off Slack Lane, to the north of the A6 in Westhoughton . A previous bid was thrown out by the council in February this year, but the developers have now not only put in new plans but have also appealed against the refusal.
Cllr David Wilkinson, who represents Westhoughton South, said: “It’s more or less exactly the same with some tweaks to it, they’ve also got an appeal in at the same time.” He added: “Obviously we’ll have to wait and see what takes place whether it makes it to planning committee and I’d image it will make it to planning.” A new plan has been submitted (Image: Oxford Architects) Cllr Wilkinson said that if approved the battery storage farm would be found close to an electricity substation on Slack Lane.
He said: “Which is not a little tiny thing with a box on, this is an enormous, major substation, the Slack Lane one, which they say is where it's got to go.” The last bid was turned down after dozens of people in the area signed a petition opposing the plans, along with the area’s councillors and the then MP for Bolton West Chris Green. The land is found off Slack Lane (Image: Google Maps) But the new application by Electric Land Ltd claims to have addressed the previous reasons why their last plan was refused.
The latest plan was lodged on Wednesday, August 28. ALSO READ: Plan for battery system blocked amid concern in Westhoughton ALSO READ: Controversial battery storage unit up for key vote amid 'fire safety' fears ALSO READ: Emergency power station for National Grid could be built in Bolton A design and access statement said: “The greenspace management team confirmed that the site had been used as a football pitch but advised that, whilst the site may have been considered as a ‘playing field’ at some point in the past, it was never big enough for a formal pitch and records indicate it had poor access. “It was taken out of maintenance and hasn’t been mown since 2011.
It added: “Following the refusal of the Slack Lane BESS submission in February 2024, the development has undergone a substantial redesign to directly address the reasons for refusal set out in the decision notice, and the planning officer’s report.” The council will aim to decide whether or not to approve the latest plan by Wednesday, October 23..
