LAND at Wincham Business Park is earmarked for a power plant which would operate for up to 20 years.

Rydberg Development Company Limited is seeking planning approval to build and operate a 20MW flexible peaking power generation plant off Wincham Lane.

The site has been chosen because of the ability to connect to the gas and electricity grids in a location where there is adequate capacity on the electricity grid.

A report accompanying the planning application to Cheshire West and Chester Council said the Government supported energy security in the form of peaking power generation plants.

It said: “The proposal not only contributes to the security of the energy supply for the future, but will serve to support the development of further renewable energy infrastructure, consistent with the borough council’s aims to meet its obligations under national and local carbon reduction initiatives and targets.

“There is significant benefit from the establishment of a peaking power generation plant in Northwich and Wincham, and the development is in accordance of the Cheshire West and Chester Local Plan.”

The development would consist of 10 gas-fired engine-driven electricity generation sets housed in acoustically-insulated, weather-proof steel containers.

The plant would have an operational life of between 15 and 20 years, following which it would be decommissioned.

Although the plant must be available to the National Grid for operation 24 hours a day, it would run for only short periods, with long periods between operating.

The plant would take between four and six months to build, would employ up to eight construction staff and once operational would provide two part-time equivalent jobs.

Working hours during construction would be 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 1pm on Saturdays.

“The adjacent land includes a number of existing industrial units, which will ensure effective screening of the development, and will ensure there are no significant views of the site from the adjacent public highway,” said the report.

It is proposed to provide two parking bays for visiting maintenance staff and an additional space beside the substation, and an HGV turning circle is incorporated in the plans.