Green light for energy development

An application was approved at Dumfries and Galloway Council’s planning committee today to develop the Glenglass substation site, which is a few miles south of Kirkconnel and south-west of Sanquhar.
Councillors gave the green light for an extension to the existing substation, which includes a new construction compound area and formation of access roads.
The energy production site currently serves four windfarms’ capacity (Whiteside Hill, Twentyshilling, Sandy Knowe, Sanquhar One) and will provide further capacity for Glenmuckloch and Sanquhar Two sites when developed.
Council planning papers explain that the development will include a single-storey gas insulated substation with external steel security fencing, a new access road, and a construction compound area which will provide accommodation for cabins, car parking, waste skips and a laydown area for deliveries.
Council planning papers state: “The site is unmanned and is therefore not a permanent place of work. The site is proposed as an operational area and will therefore only be accessible to those who are authorised to work on or adjacent to the SPEN (Scottish Power Energy Networks) network.
“Due to this, any staff or contractors working in the area must be able to exit the site rapidly in the event of an emergency for health and safety purposes.
“On that basis, no disabled access is proposed as part of the proposed development.”
There were no objections to the development from members of the public and planning case officer John Hiscox recommended that the application be approved. Councillors unanimously agreed.