Highland Council planning committee rejects ‘deeply unsettling’ BESS proposal
A “deeply unsettling" Battery Energy Storage (BESS) facility that was proposed for a site in Fasnakyle has been refused by Highland Council.
Developer Logan PM’s plans were previously deferred back in August to allow a site visit to take place before today’s (October 8) south planning applications committee meeting rejected the move.
The plans sought to create a BESS with a generating capacity of up to 50MW and included 28 energy storage modules described as “similar to shipping containers.”
Each would have been about 76 metres long, 2.6 metres wide and 2.9m high while there would have been 14 paired transformers/converters alongside each pair of battery units.
Under the plans all that would have sat on hard surfacing with gravel filter trenches within the main BESS area measuring approximately 105 metres by 45 metres.
But those plans prompted 13 material considerations raised in objections, with 75 objections and 25 statements in support of the scheme.
Among objections were worries that the BESS poses a health and safety risk due to proximity to residential properties and Fasnakyle Church; and the absence of a fire management plan and emergency response strategy, leading to the potential for toxic emissions from lithium-ion batteries.
It was also deemed to be a “poor site selection, with alternative sites being preferred.”
Strathglass Community Council objected, stating: “Concerns include: visual impact, lack of representative photomontages and full assessment of visual impact; setting impacts for listed Fasnakyle Bridge and Hydro Station; noise and light impacts, including loss of dark skies; proximity to homes; ancient woodland and biodiversity impact; and fire risk given recent wildfires and limited local fire service capacity.”
Councillor David Fraser (Aird and Loch Ness, Highland Independent) proposed an amendment to reject the proposal on multiple grounds.
His main objection was the lack of a satisfactory fire safety plan, which he said was “deeply unsettling relying on so many conditions” and led to “deep concerns on fire safety."
His amendment was seconded by Cllr Duncan Macpherson (Inverness South, Highland Alliance) who shared his concerns on fire safety saying that “we cannot ignore the worst case scenario."
Cllr Paul Oldham (Nairn and Cawdor, SNP) also backed the amendment, remembering how the coach that took councillors for the site visit struggled on the single track road there.
He also agreed about the potential difficulty of tackling any fire at the site due to the location and accessibility of the planned facility.
Cllr Fraser added: "It's really important to recognise how special an area it is.
“It would create a very different experience for anybody living there.”
The rejected site was proposed to be built three kilometres south of Cannich and next to three existing homes plus one currently under construction.