Plans have been submitted to councillors to erect a 'small scale' power plant on an industrial estate in New Romney.

If approved by Folkestone and Hythe District Council, a power station would be constructed on 0.03 hectares of land on Mountfield Road Industrial Estate, along Collins Road.

The proposal would see a new 'urban reserve' 2.5MW (megawatts) gas fired power plant built on hardstanding, currently used for storage, on plot 19.

Blueprints for the site, which would be known as Collins Power, have been submitted by Urban Reserve Ltd, part of Aggregated Micro Power Holdings Plc (AMP), the applicant.

In the planning statement, produced by agent SLR Consulting Ltd, it states: "These developments will generate electricity locally, helping release grid capacity and providing benefit to local business, developments and electric vehicle charging points.

"Urban Reserve projects generate electricity close to and in urban areas where demand for electricity is high.

"Generating electricity locally reduces the energy lost when transporting electricity around the country and ensures that local networks are secured and protected against shortages.

"Renewables like wind and solar generate electricity intermittently and cannot generate when the weather conditions are not favourable. Urban Reserve projects can fill a gap in supply by generating electricity when renewables cannot, supporting the local network and by doing so providing security of supply."

The proposal is one of several AMP projects nationally, which only develops urban reserve sites in 'demand dominated' areas, meaning the energy is consumed within that region.

The compound would contain a 2.5MW generator in a 40ft steel container with an exhaust stack, as well as supply connection points contained within a gas kiosk. These are connected by underground gas pipeline and electricity cables, to the respective grids.

Site requirements include being near a natural gas main and that it has little alternative use, both of which the Collins Road site has. Access would be from Collins Road.

The project will have low air emissions, but a risk assessment will be conducted to support the application. The planning statement notes that the supply will have long-term social and economic benefits to the Mountfield Road Industrial Estate: "The review has concluded that the environmental impacts associated with this small-scale development are temporary and minimal."

In response to the application, New Romney Town Council announced they were for the development while Kent County Council (KCC) highways officers seek further information on visibility splays and parking.