Battery storage scheme attracts objections from Lord Lovat and writer Kapka Kassabova who are among 41 others against the plan backed by Highland Council
A proposed battery storage scheme near Beauly has sparked 43 objections including from Lord Lovat and the writer Kapka Kassabova in what is the latest battle of locals against renewables developers.
The proposals by Whirlwind Energy Storage Ltd and Caulternich Farm are for the construction of 36 energy storage modules each 7.3m x 1.6m x 2.8m high with a capacity of up to 49.9MW.
The site is in an agricultural field just to the left of the road when travelling from Kilmorack to Broallan, just short of a fork in the road – about a mile to the west of the Beauly substation.
It is the latest development in that area to raise the backs of local residents who are concerned about the wave of developments descending on the Highlands with little to no control over the developments close to home.
The council received a total 43 objections for the plans that were previously refused planning permission back in August of 2022 – but now it has come back again with planning officials recommending councillors grant approval.
In all the council itemised 22 so-called material considerations raised by the objectors ranging from the principle of development, site selection, access, the environment and health and safety.
Lovat Estates – whose CIO is Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat – said: “Our core objection being that the siting of an industrial facility in open countryside with no locational requirements breaches Highland Council Policy designed to protect our neighbourhood, landscape and residential amenity.
“So we strongly object to this proposal and would like to make the Highland Council aware that Lovat Estate is open to a conversation regarding a sensible relocation of a project such as this to the vastly more appropriate brownfield land within Balblair Quarry.”
That appears to have sparked one of the two supporting comments in favour of the development from a Tom Morrison from Easter Urray who called on councillors to “put the future of our children before the nimby voices of short timers”.
He said: “Simon Lovat saying that he is open to a conversation about directing the money to his pocket is not a valid comment or objection however I feel that Lord Lovat already has enough money flowing into his pocket.”
Mr Morrison flew in the face of other locals saying he was content the noise report shows there will be “undue disturbance”; the site will be screened; traffic can easily be managed as “there are only 36 artic loads of batteries to be delivered”.
Someone located closer to the site than Mr Morrison is the award winning author Kapka Kassabova who said: “I object to this application in the strongest possible terms.
“There has been no public consultation and no information has been given to the public about this proposed industrial installation containing lithium and other unknown substances, with a potentially harmful health effect on residents and wildlife. The industrial infrastructure that would be required to install it would further degrade this area in every conceivable way.
“Kilmorack is a well populated area. It is also the gateway to a glen that contains an iconic hiking and wildlife site – Glen Affric. Kilmorack has cultural, historic, and ecological significance to the Highlands.”
The council claimed that Kilmorack Community Council “does not object to the application but refer to the reasons for refusal of the previous application” which “it did however object to the previous application on a wide range of matters”.
Among those reasons were design of the facility being too small to balance network demand; lack of land ownership control of cable route connection; poor site selection; landscape and visual impact; noise impact and natural heritage impact.
The South Planning Applications Committee will determine the outcome next week when it also considers the refusal of the planning appeal for Caley Thistle’s bid for a similar BESS in Inverness.
