Council Approves Major Energy Storage Project in Harborough District
Written by HFM News on 19th June 2026
One of the UK’s largest battery energy storage projects has been given the green light by Harborough District Council.
The development, known as Swinford Energy Park, will be built on more than 200 acres of land between Swinford, South Kilworth and Walcote, next to Swinford Wind Farm.
How the facility is likely to look. Pic: NatPower
The facility, covering the equivalent of more than 115 full-size football pitches, will be capable of storing up to one gigawatt of electricity, allowing energy to be taken from the grid during periods of low demand and released when demand is higher.
Developer NatPower say that’s enough electricity to power around 500,000 homes.
The scheme includes the installation of 1,087 metal containers, each housing lithium-ion batteries, along with hundreds of power conversion units, transformers, substations and supporting infrastructure.
According to planning documents, the batteries will be capable of storing electricity for up to four hours at a time, providing what is currently considered long-duration energy storage.
NatPower said the location was selected after assessing 26 potential sites and was chosen because of its proximity to National Grid infrastructure between the substations at Enderby and Patford Bridge in Northamptonshire.
How the facility is likely to look. Pic: NatPower
The company says a significant proportion of the site will be dedicated to ecological improvements and biodiversity enhancements, alongside new planting and landscaping.
The development will also include security fencing, CCTV, welfare facilities for staff and storage buildings.
NatPower estimates the project will create around 90 full-time construction jobs, with a further 110 jobs supported through the supply chain during the build phase.
Battery storage facilities are increasingly seen as a key part of the UK’s transition to renewable energy, helping to balance electricity supply and demand as more power is generated from sources such as wind and solar.
