PROJECT DETAILS

Hollybush Inn BESS infrastructure will enable the storage of 49.9 megawatts (MW) of energy, equivalent to a full day’s energy consumption for thousands of homes.

The Hollybush Inn closed in January 2020 after several changes in ownership and ceased trading in September 2020. In March 2021, South Staffordshire Council (SSC) granted permission for a change of use from the former pub to parking, storage, and sewage treatment*. This permission has not been fully implemented and the former pub building, car park, and garden have since fallen into a state of disrepair.

The site came to our attention soon after we learned of storage capacity at Penn Substation. Its topography, distance from houses, natural screening, and proximity to substation infrastructure were all signs of its suitability for BESS development. After securing the necessary agreements with the Distribution Network Operator, we appointed a team of environmental, engineering, and planning specialists to help us with the design.