Perth and Kinross councillors refuse plan for battery storage site beside garden centre

Perth and Kinross councillors have voted to refuse another energy development being built next to a Perthshire garden centre.

The proposed 49.9MW battery energy storage system on prime agricultural land would have been the fourth such development next to Jamesfield Garden Centre.

The garden centre objected to the proposal, and the Planning and Placemaking Committee went against the council officers’ recommendation and refused the application, concerned about the cumulative impact.

On Wednesday, July 8, Perth and Kinross Council’s Planning and Placemaking Committee was recommended to approve an application by Harmony Energy to install a 49.9MW battery energy storage system on land next to the Abernethy garden centre.

Councillors were told the energy plant would store enough electricity to power around 161,898 houses for four hours.

There was just one objection – from neighbouring Jamesfield Garden Centre.

Stocking a wide variety of garden plants, the garden centre has gradually been encroached by plants of the industrial variety on neighbouring land. If approved, it would have been the fourth consented energy development immediately next to the garden centre and the substation.

Harmony Energy’s senior planning manager Tessa Fletcher told councillors the company operated 17 battery energy storage sites in the UK including the nearby 49 MW to the east of the garden centre.

Conservative councillor Bob Brawn asked why the development had to be on prime agricultural land.

Ms Fletcher said: “There’s further capacity available at Abernethy substation and we applied for that and wanted to get as close to the substation as possible.

“It’s regrettable, admittedly, that it’s on prime agricultural land.

“But all the land in that area is high value. Finding parcels of land that is a lower grade, not impact the wider landscape and also be well related to the substation was a challenge.

“We have a grid connection agreed to connect into that substation, which is why we’re in that area. We felt that field would enable the best connection physically but also visibly as well; it enables us to do a lot of screening around the front of the site.”

Liberal Democratic councillor Claire McLaren raised concern about the cumulative and visual impact and asked if this was “really the primary option”.

Ms Fletcher explained that, after having achieved permission from National Grid to connect into the substation, a landowner was then needed “who was willing to have our development on their site”.

She argued the visual impact would be well “constrained” and that “nearby residents didn’t have concerns about it visually”.

Ms Fletcher said Harmony Energy had worked “very closely” with the objector, Jamesfield Garden Centre, during the development of the previous site and approached them again with their latest plans.

She said: “We can appreciate they’re not thrilled about it and don’t want any development that could jeopardise their business – completely understandable.”

She added: “We have made a commitment to them that – during construction – we will ensure vehicle movements don’t interrupt their business. We will help them with marketing of their garden centre during the course of the development as well, which is something we did during the construction of the previous site.”

Cllr Brawn moved for refusal, raising concern about the use of prime agricultural land to store electricity, which may not necessarily have been produced by renewable sources.

He said: “Yes, there is an exception for essential infrastructure, but we have several battery storage facilities agreed in this area.

“I don’t think there’s been enough investigation to assess if this is the only site.”

He argued “cabling can be run over distances” and “there was never any need for battery storage to be right next to a substation”.

The Conservative councillor added: “This is accumulating up and we’re starting to lose our prime agricultural land and think there needs to be care taken.

“I feel the steady industrialisation of this small part of Perth and Kinross, which is occurring.

“It’s not a generator of renewable energy; it’s a storage facility. It doesn’t store only renewable energy.”

It was seconded by Conservative councillor Ian James.

Convener SNP councillor Ian Massie tabled to approve the application; his vice-convener Grant Stewart seconded.

Cllr Massie said: “The loss of prime agricultural land is something we have to bear. The benefits of having the battery energy storage close to the substation are paramount to the viability of these facilities. It’s the most valuable option.”

Six Conservative, Independent and Lib Dem councillors voted to refuse the application. Four SNP councillors voted for approval.

The application was refused.