Council to approve battery storage facility despite concerns

Planning bosses at West Dunbartonshire council are expected to grant their approval for an energy storage unit on a nearby green belt site despite previous concerns about biodiversity.

It comes after an application for the construction and operation of a battery energy storage facility within the East Dunbartonshire council boundary was submitted to Scottish Ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Proposals for the site, situated at Cochno Road, Bearsden, would include a 560MW energy storage system with a substation, security fencing, CCTV, security lighting and operate over 40 years.

The proposed development would be made up of a number of container units which would house the battery systems and associated infrastructure.

Each container would look like a standard metal ISO/shipping container, and would also be soundproof.

West Dunbartonshire Council had been consulted as the neighbouring planning authority but objected last year following concerns over the use of the green belt, visual impact and impact on ecology or biodiversity.

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A revised proposal was then put together with a range of additional and updated supporting documents and subsequently submitted to the Scottish Ministers.

West Dunbartonshire decided that the revised proposal satisfactorily addressed the concerns relating to landscape and visual impact, residential amenity and the impact upon the core path network and the council’s objection on these matters was removed.

But the local authority maintained its objection over concerns and impact of developing on a greenbelt. Council officers have been advised that there are no other suitable sites outside this location.

Elected members will be advised to agree that East Dunbartonshire Council has provided the updated consultation response and that previous concerns have been addressed meaning there is no longer the need to object to the proposal as a neighbouring planning authority.

A discussion is expected to take place at next week’s planning committee.