Controversial Beauly BESS Project Faces Highland Council Objection

Highland Council is set to vote on a controversial 100MW battery energy storage system in Beauly, with planning officials recommending a formal objection.

Highland Council has been asked to raise an objection to a controversial battery energy storage system (BESS) planned for Beauly.. The application by developer Field Beauly Limited has received 729 public objections and is due to be discussed by Highland Council’s south planning committee on Wednesday, May 13.. Highland Council’s planning department has recommended committee members raise an objection to the BESS.. It says the developer’s assessment of alternative sites was “not necessarily robust” enough

to justify ruling out other locations for the BESS.. It also mentions that a separate grid connection that would be required for the BESS has not been included within the application, so the full impact of the project cannot be properly assessed by the council.. The planned site is described in the application as prime agricultural land situated directly south of the River Beauly.. The whole site would cover an area of 18.5 hectares and

connect to the Beauly Substation.. Access to the proposed BESS would be from the existing junction on the A862 public road.. The BESS would have a capacity of 100MW and be arranged into 44 rows with lighting, CCTV and an underground connection cable also proposed.. As well as the 729 public objections, four community councils also raised an objection to the plans.. Kiltarlity; Beauly; Kilmorack; and Kirkhill and Bunchrew community councils raised concerns over potential

fire risks, the impact on transport and the local roads, noise levels and the loss of agricultural land.. The application comes under the National Planning Frameworks (NPF4) which means the council only has the power to raise an objection to the site – it is up to the Scottish Government whether it can go ahead or not.. Do you want to respond to this article?. If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they

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Beauly BESS, Highland Council, battery energy storage, renewable energy, energy storage, public objection, NPF4