Wansborough Paper Mill, which dated back to the 1650s, was the country’s largest producer of coreboard before its closure in December 2015 and subsequent demolition.
Tameer Homes has put forward proposals to regenerate the bulk of the site, providing 350 new homes as well as a hotel, employment units, leisure facilities and a ‘visitor interpretation centre’.
But part of the site will soon become home to a battery storage facility after plans put forward by Huntley Wood Investments were approved. The facility will be built at the western end of the site, south of an existing electricity substation between the Mill Race and the Washford River.
It will store surplus energy and sell it to the National Grid during times of higher demand.
A spokesman for Architectural & Surveying Services Ltd - representing the applicant - said: “Battery storage technology has a key part to play in ensuring homes and businesses can be powered by green energy even when the sun isn’t shining or the wind has stopped blowing.
“The UK government estimates technologies like battery storage systems - supporting the integration of more low carbon power, heat and transport technologies - could save the UK energy system up to £40bn by 2050, ultimately reducing people’s energy bills.
“This facility will help to ensure stable and secure energy supplies for existing communities and future generations as the UK moves to a low carbon economy, including the anticipated significant increase in electricity demand associated with electric vehicles and de-carbonising heating.”
The facility will be accessed from the B3191 Brendon Road, with the company stating only a small number of vehicles would need to visit the site once construction was completed.
The spokesman added: “The proposed site is eminently suitable for this use given its proximity to Watchet, and this location will enable the storage facility to provide emergency power to the town in the event of wider grid failure.
“It is not felt that the proposal will cause any material impact upon the proposed residential and mixed-use development currently under consideration on the reminder of the former paper mill site.”
A further reserved matters application for the battery storage facility, covering its precise layout and design, will be submitted to the council early next year.
The council has not indicated how soon the Tameer Homes proposals could come before its planning committee for a decision.
Daniel Mumby, Local democracy reporter