North Lanarkshire community battles battery storage and solar farm plans

A North Lanarkshire community is rallying to fight plans to build a solar energy farm and battery storage system on its doorstep.

Developers of the site at Newarthill say it will bring cheaper, more reliable energy to two nearby businesses, but a group of neighbours argue it’s at the cost of valued green space.

Locals told STV News they don’t believe a site like this should be allowed on a greenbelt site so close to their community.

Around a dozen properties sit on the edge of the field, in which developers want to install an array of ground-mounted solar panels as well as a battery storage system.

North Lanarkshire Council said it can’t comment on live planning applications, but the proposals won’t be back before the planning committee until June.