PLANS for a battery storage facility in the Carlisle area have been unanimously approved by members of Cumberland Council's planning committee.

They considered the proposal from Energi Generation at a meeting at the Copeland Centre in Whitehaven on Wednesday (July 17).

The site was on land at Low Harker Farm, Low Harker, Harker, and the proposal was for a 400MW battery storage facility with boundary fencing, an access track, landscaping and other associated infrastructure.

Lauren Taylor, from the applicant's agent ADAS Planning, told members that excess energy would be stored during periods of low demand which would be released during periods of high demand.

Members were told that such facilities had a typical lifespan of 10 years and councillor Linda Jones-Bulman (Cleator Moor East and Frizington, Labour) said the planning report was a "well written document".

Councillor John Mallinson (Houghton and Irthington, Conservative) asked how many homes it could power?

He was told this would be between 400 and 900.

When the matter was put to the vote all of the committee followed the officer's recommendation and approved it with conditions.