East Lothian Council to oppose battery storage site near Dunbar over 'lack of information'

Plans 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 Consent 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 information 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 the proposed entrances for the site during construction fail to meet the required visibility distances with no mitigations offered to address the issue and there is 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 construction is estimated to take up to 32 weeks if given the go ahead but once it is built is is expected there would only be one or two vehicle visits to the site each month.

Local community councils have raised concerns from locals about the safety of the site and its impact on the area and officers recommend Energy Consent 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.