Renewable energy developer Boom Power has ssecured planning consents for a solar project and a battery storage project in the UK.
The 47MW Firsfield Solar Farm in West Suffolk received zero objections form statutory consultees and therefore was approved under delegated powers by West Suffolk Council at the end of April 2024.
The planning application was supported by a full Environmental Statement which details the significant gains for biodiversity through habitat enhancement and creation.
To ensure no net-loss of skylark territories resulting from the proposed development, Boom Power has secured a mitigation strategy to provide alternative skylark plots in off-site areas.
Jack Spurway, Head of Planning for Boom Power, said: “we have enjoyed a productive working relationship with West Suffolk Council during the determination of this planning application.
“Our design team along with our planning and environmental consultants have gone above and beyond to design the scheme which sits well within the existing landscape and keeps impacts on the local area to a minimum, the scheme will deliver against national and local net zero targets whilst also achieving significant gains for biodiversity.”
The Misslebrooks battery energy storage system (BESS) project in North Baddesley, Hampshire, is capable of storing 114 megawatt-hours of renewable energy, which would be discharged over a two-hour period.
It was approved in April at planning committee by Test Valley Borough Council.
The approved development has been designed by the Boom team with the input of technology suppliers, industry experts and thorough liaison with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service and therefore demonstrates conformity to NFCC Guidance (2023).
Spurway said: “We are grateful to the members of the planning committee who consented this scheme in line with the case officer’s recommendation, recognising the significant benefits that will be delivered, including significant biodiversity net gain using Natural England’s metric.
“Our design team supported by industry leading environmental experts have designed a scheme that respects the local landscape character and minimises impacts which led to the scheme being determined as acceptable in an important local gap.”
Founder of Boom Power, Mark Hogan, added: “Misslebrooks is our first BESS to be developed in-house and delivers a robust and safety-first approach.
“Additionally, Firsfield being consented under delegated powers shows that this is an excellent scheme and entirely aligns with the Local Planning Authorities development plan for West Suffolk and their net zero targets.
“I am delighted to report that these two projects bring our total consented portfolio to 365MW with a further 957MW currently in planning, both across solar and BESS. It is full steam ahead as we approach summer 2024.”