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Search the Public Notice PortalPLANS for a battery energy storage system (BESS) on land near Dunbar are set to be opposed by East Lothian Council over a lack of information about road safety, impact on the countryside and flood risks.
The proposal for the land at Pitcox, near the Biel Water, will be decided by the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit, but East Lothian Council is able to object as a statutory consultee.
Officers have raised concerns about missing information in the application, as well as some which they say lacks detail.
In a report to councillors, officers highlight a lack of information and assessment in the landscape reports over the loss of hedgerow important to the character of the area and its visual impact.
They say that the proposed entrances for the site during construction fail to meet the required visibility distances, with no mitigations offered to address the issue and insufficient information on the risks of surface-water flooding.
Speaking about the impact on the land itself, the council’s landscaping officers said: “We object due to lack of information and possible/likely loss of hedgerows important to the character of the area.
"Changing levels within the site may also impact on the adjacent hedgerow and trees.
“No information has been provided on this and this may have a greater impact on the existing landscape than suggested.
"Overall, we do have a number of concerns over the accuracy of the information submitted for consideration and we would ask that the additional information is submitted for our consideration.”
The proposed BESS has been applied for by AEUK Battery Project and includes 80 BESS units, 200 metres of underground cabling, two emergency fire tanks, and safety fencing around the site.
The applicants say that construction is estimated to take up to 32 weeks if given the go-ahead but, once it is built, is is expected that there would only be one or two vehicle visits to the site each month.
Community councils have raised concerns from residents about the safety of the site and its impact on the area, and officers recommend the Energy Consents Unit considers the views of the organisations in its decision-making.
Councillors will be asked to debate the proposals and the council’s response at a planning meeting next week, after Councillor Donna Collins called it in because of local concerns.
If council objections cannot be resolved with the applicants, a public inquiry is likely to be held to decide the application.
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