Battery storage and access at Land Adjacent To Old Schoolhouse Barras, Stonehaven

What was proposed

The applications sought a 49.9 MW battery energy storage system with associated infrastructure and a public-road access.

“(i) The installation of a battery energy storage system (BESS) with an installed capacity of 49.9 MW and associated infrastructure (APP/2024/2125) and…”

“(ii) The formation of an access from the public road to serve the development (APP/2026/0067)”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is 1.3 hectares of flat arable land near Stonehaven, with nearby homes and access from a minor road connected to the A90.

“The application site is located approximately 6.5km southwest of Stonehaven and occupies 1.3 ha of flat arable land accessed from a minor road from an existing junction on the A90. There are several residential properties within a 500m radius of the site, the closest of which (the new house at the back of the Old School House) is located more than 200m away from the proposed batteries.”

“The proposed development will occupy approximately 0.25 hectares of the site, with the remaining area allocated to access tracks, landscaped bunds, a…”

Officer report

What consultees and residents said

Residents mainly objected over landscape, industrialisation, wildlife, flooding, roads, noise, fire and agricultural land, while consultees generally raised no objection subject to conditions.

“Loss of natural heritage and prime agricultural land. • Risk of mass industrialisation in a rural setting. • Cumulative impact from multiple BESS approvals in the area. • Threat to protected species including pine marten, European water vole, common toad, and owls. • Increased flood risk due to the site’s location in a flood-prone area • Road safety • Roads traffic disruption • Noise impact…”

“Environment and Infrastructure Services (Environmental Health) have reviewed the proposal and confirmed that they have no objection, subject to the inclusion of specific planning conditions requiring sound power level noise information for all battery storage inverter units and transformers, demonstrating that noise levels will not exceed those detailed in the submitted Noise Impact Assessment and ensuring that the screening bund and layout arrangement are implemented…”

Officer report

Who spoke

The committee heard from the applicant and two objectors, who discussed site selection, landscape, fire, roads, wildlife, agricultural land and construction impacts.

What members debated

Members questioned landscape screening, site selection, mitigation, trees, woodland, noise, animals and the grid connection before debating refusal and approval motions.

“The Senior Planner then responded to Members questions on landscape; if the hedging could be extended to include the bottom right-hand side of the site to mitigate further against noise and visual impacts; clarity regarding brownfield v’s greenfield site selection; when the tree and landscape mitigations would be fully developed; mitigations planned for dealing with the ancient woodland and trees; and impact of noise on animals and if this was a consideration, advised that…”

“June 2026. He responded to Members questions on site selection and connection to the grid, confirming it would be Fiddes 2 station.”

Minutes

How members voted

Seven councillors supported the refusal motion and two supported an amendment to grant permission with additional hedging.

“Following debate Councillor Carr, seconded by Councillor Carnie, moved a motion to refuse Full Planning Permission as on balance the proposed Battery Energy Storage System, by virtue of its associated bunding, fencing, infrastructure and access works would introduce an industrial form of development into an open rural landscape.”

“Councillor Dickinson, seconded by Councillor Sullivan, moved as an amendment to grant Full Planning Permission in line with officer recommendations with an additional condition regarding hedging at the south end of the site.”

Minutes

The committee decision

The committee refused permission because the development would create an industrial form in an open rural landscape and harm landscape character and visual amenity cumulatively.

“Committee agreed to refuse Full Planning Permission.”

“Reason for Decision On balance the proposed Battery Energy Storage System, by virtue of its associated bunding, fencing, infrastructure and access works would introduce an industrial form of development into an open rural landscape.”

Minutes