CONCERNS have been raised over families ‘running for the nearest air raid shelter’ because of noise from an energy facility in Risley.

An application proposing the reuse and extension of an agricultural barn to accommodate the generators, as well as the storage of electricity in batteries, at New Hall Farm, on School Lane, was refused in November 2017.

But, as reported in November last year, the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to overturn the decision gave New Hall Farm Energy Limited permission to build its planned ‘grid-balancing’ facility within an existing building at the site to ensure there was a continuous supply of electricity in the area.

The site is located in the green belt.

During Wednesday’s meeting, the development management committee voted to approve a variation to the conditions.

It came after a proposal to defer a decision failed to get enough support.

The proposal was to vary a decision notice over changes to the site layout and operational hours.

The new plan removed one generator set and the battery storage element of the proposal, which the committee was told would result in a reduction in the scale of the development, in terms of physical units, although the overall output power of the development will remain the same.

However, the range of hours of operation has been increased.

The facility was planned to operate for a maximum of 2,000 hours per year, but not between 8pm and 9am.

However, the variation means it will be able to operate 24 hours a day, which is ‘in response to revised operating requirements’ from the National Grid.

But the facility will still be restricted to a maximum of 2,000 operating hours a year.

Ian Atkins, chair of Birchwood Town Council, called on the committee to ‘send a message’ by refusing the variation of the conditions.

He also told the committee that enforcement action would be sought if there are any suspected breaches.

And resident Tim Hughes, who lives close to the farm, said the scheme will result ‘in depreciation of the value’ of residential properties, with the nearest located 200 metres away.

He added: “The original plan was for a battery storage peaking facility, however, now I feel that these alterations, we are now looking at a six-megawatt power plant.

“That was clearly not the original plan.”

He also told members that the noise from the generators ‘in the middle of the night’ could see ‘a lot of families running for the nearest air raid shelter’.

But Robert Shaw, speaking in favour of the scheme, said the changes are ‘critical to the success’ of the project.

Furthermore, he told councillors that the variations were key to securing the long-term benefits to the local power grid, as well as for the transition to a low carbon energy system.

He added: “Noise is understandably a concern for residents.

“The changes to fewer number of more efficient generators will produce the same six megawatts of power that was approved originally, while producing demonstrably lower noise levels at all times of day or night.”