A power station could be built on an industrial estate to help ease pressures on the National Grid at times of high demand.

Bosses want to turn a former cold store on the Henwood estate in Ashford into a low-carbon electricity reserve.

Henwood Power Ltd has applied for planning permission to build the station next to the Flip Out indoor trampoline centre, which the National Grid could call on when more electricity is needed.

Residents have raised fears over the environmental impact of the development, known as a short-term operating reserve (STOR).

The closest residential properties located just 120 metres away in Gordon Close and 125 metres away in Wallis Road.

In the planning application submitted to Ashford Borough Council (ABC), planning agent Katie Brown from the Lichfields firm says the development is an important one.

“The STOR plant will provide electricity at short notice to fill an energy gap within the local electricity network,” she said.

“Typically, this will be required at times when alternative methods of energy from renewable sources fail to generate sufficient electricity, or when there is a short period of exceptional demand for energy that cannot be met.

“In such cases, the National Grid considers STOR generation as a last line of defence to prevent serious fluctuations and blackouts.”

“Despite the growing need for STOR facilities, it should be noted they are only used at times of network stress.”

If approved, nine engine sets will be installed at the site.

The engines will be fuelled by natural gas using conventional spark ignition technology to burn the fuel which will turn rotate the generator, creating the electricity.

The power produced will then be exported to the grid to support the local electricity network.

Exhaust gases produced by the engine will travel through a silencer, before being released into the atmosphere through five chimneys mounted to the building’s roof.

Glen Bryan, who works at nearby T&L Coopers Butchers on the Henwood Business Centre, is close to the site of the proposed development.

He said: “The building was not designed for it and I don’t necessarily agree with it.

“Flip Out is close by and there are a lot of children near the site.

“It depends on the safety measures that are put in place.”

In the planning application, Lichfields added: “The proposed development will make a valuable contribution to supporting a cleaner, greener future energy mix while addressing immediate and impending security of supply issues.

“Given the distance to the nearest residential properties, it is not considered the properties will be affected by the development.

“It is considered that the air quality impacts are acceptable.

“The STOR would run for short periods of time to meet demand, typically with long periods between operating times.”

Construction of the plant would take about six months, with four jobs created once it is operational.

It will have a 20 to 30 year operational lifespan.

To view the planning application, visit www.ashford.gov.uk and search for 18/01046/AS