Blackpool power station plan rejected

Land at Amy Johnson Way where a small gas fired power station had been proposed

Lark Energy of Lincolnshire had applied to build the generator on vacant land off Amy Johnson Way near the John Roberts premises and the Dakota Court buildings now being constructed.

But planning chiefs at Blackpool Council said the scheme was unsuitable for the location and would take up land better used for creating employment.

The bid would have seen a 10MW generator facility and 12MW battery storage being installed but since it would be automatic, few jobs would have been created.

It was to have been a small scale power plant designed to top up the National Grid when demand was high,a situation which usually happens during daytime in winter.

The company said in an application report: “The installation Lark Energy is proposing to install would provide the National Grid with emergency electricity supply in milliseconds.”

The firm, best known for its solar panel array power stations, said this type of top-up facility was increasingly needed as the country transitions towards the use of intermittent renewable sources,such as wind and solar.

Blackpool Council rejected the plans.

The decision notice says: “The proposal would result in the loss of safeguarded employment land in the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone and given the appearance of the development and the nature of the use and proximity to land identified for future employment development, the proposal would effectively prejudice future development potential.”