AN application for a battery storage facility at Beattock was approved by councillors last week.
The council’s planning committee reviewed the application for the development at Milton Farm by developers RenewCo Power. The plans had previously sparked concerns among Kirkpatrick Juxta Community Council as well as Moffat and Beattock residents who feared that the lithium-ion batteries could cause fires if they become unstable.
During the meeting councillors raised question about the fire safety system within the unit, as well as lighting in and around the site due to its proximity to Moffat, which is a designated dark sky town.
The development at Milton Farm will consist of a 49.9 mega watt storage unit within a site area of 3.0 hectares and comprising of 44 containerised battery storage units – which are the size of shipping containers, a substation and control building, two metre high security fence, six pole mounted CCTV cameras, 11 transformer units, access track, parking, suds drainage and landscaping.
Following a debate, councillors felt reassured enough to approve the application with conditions. Annandale North councillor Stephen Thompson commented: “I’m very aware of the community concerns and that’s very clear through the representations. But from what we’ve heard today it’s clear that every reasonable measure has been taken or at least there in an undertaking to provide that assurance and I’m assured as well by our council’s involvement in terms of strategic risk and how we deal with that and the fire services input as well which everybody seems to be working towards a safe installation.”
