24/00004/Pan
Perth and Kinross Council · 5 June 2024
Back to Planning and Placemaking Committee — 5 June 2024 and its agenda
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Perth and Kinross Council Planning and Placemaking Committee – 5 June 2024 Pre-Application Report by Strategic Lead – Economy, Development and Planning (Report No. 24/171) PROPOSAL: Formation of a 49.9MW battery energy storage facility and associated works LOCATION: Land 200 Metres North of Pitcurran House, Newburgh Road, Abernethy, Perth Ref. No: 24/00004/PAN Ward No: P9- Almond and Earn Summary This report is to inform the Committee of a potential forthcoming planning application in respect of a major development for formation of a 49.9MW battery energy storage facility and associated works at land 200 metres North of Pitcurran House, Newburgh Road, Abernethy, Perth, PH2 9LH. The report also aims to highlight the key planning policies and the likely stakeholders who would be involved in the decision making process, and to offer a brief overview of the key planning issues which are likely to be relevant to the proposal. BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION 1. In accordance with the provisions of the Town & Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended), the applicants submitted a Proposal of Application Notice (PoAN) on 10 April 2024. The purpose of this report is to inform the Planning and Placemaking Committee of a forthcoming planning application in respect of a major development for formation of a 49.9MW battery energy storage facility and associated works. Pre-application reports give the Committee an opportunity to raise issues which it would like to see addressed in the planning application. 2. This PoAN seeks to formally establish a major development. The exact range of uses, scale and design of the development will be arrived at during pre- application discussions. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) 3. Due to the scale of the proposal it will require to be screened as to whether the proposal is an EIA development under the EIA 2017 Regulations. A screening request is required to be submitted by the applicant. It is noted that a screening opinion has already been provided reference 24/00580/SCRN, and is not subject of an EIA development.
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PRE-APPLICATION PROCESS 4. The PoAN (reference 24/00004/PAN) confirmed that two public exhibitions will be held at Williamson Hall, Kirk Wynd, Abernethy, PH2 9JD on 22nd April and 22nd May 2024 between 2.30pm and 6.30pm. The Ward Councillors, and Abernethy and District Community Council have been notified. The results of the community consultation will be submitted with the planning application as part of the required Pre-Application Consultation (PAC) Report. DEVELOPMENT PLAN 5. The Development Plan for the area comprises National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) and the Perth and Kinross Local Development Plan 2 (2019) (LDP2). National Planning Framework 4 6. The National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) is the Scottish Government’s long-term spatial strategy with a comprehensive set of national planning policies. This strategy sets out how to improve people’s lives by making sustainable, liveable and productive spaces. 7. NPF4 was adopted on 13 February 2023. NPF4 has an increased status over previous NPFs and comprises part of the statutory development plan. 8. The Council’s assessment of this application has considered the following policies of NPF4: • Policy 1: Tackling the Climate and Nature Crisis • Policy 3: Biodiversity • Policy 4: Natural Places • Policy 5: Soils • Policy 6: Forestry, Woodland and Trees • Policy 7: Historic Assets and Places • Policy 11: Energy • Policy 13: Sustainable Transport • Policy 14: Design, Quality and Place • Policy 20: Blue and Green Infrastructure • Policy 21 Play, Recreation and Sport • Policy 22: Flood Risk and Water Management • Policy 29 Rural Development • Policy 54: Health and Safety Perth and Kinross Local Development Plan 2019 9. The Local Development Plan 2 (2019) (LDP2) sets out a vision statement for the area and states that, “Our vision is of a Perth and Kinross which is dynamic, attractive and effective which protects its assets whilst welcoming population and economic growth.” It is the most recent statement of Council policy and is augmented by Supplementary Guidance.
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10. The principal relevant policies are, in summary; • Policy 1A: Placemaking • Policy 1B: Placemaking • Policy 2: Design Statements • Policy 6: Settlement Boundaries • Policy 8: Rural Business and Diversification • Policy 15: Public Access • Policy 26B: Scheduled Monuments and Archaeology: Archaeology • Policy 31: Other Historic Environment Assets • Policy 33A: Renewable and Low Carbon Energy: New Proposals for Renewable and Low-Carbon Energy • Policy 33B: Renewable and Low Carbon Energy: Repowering and Extending Existing Facilities • Policy 33C: Renewable and Low Carbon Energy: Decommissioning and Restoration of Existing Facilities • Policy 35: Electricity Transmission Infrastructure • Policy 38C: Environment and Conservation: Local Designations • Policy 39: Landscape • Policy 40B: Forestry, Woodland and Trees: Trees, Woodland and Development • Policy 41: Biodiversity • Policy 42: Green Infrastructure • Policy 50: Prime Agricultural Land • Policy 51: Soils • Policy 52: New Development and Flooding • Policy 53C: Water Environment and Drainage: Surface Water Drainage • Policy 53E: Water Environment and Drainage: Water Supply • Policy 54: Health and Safety Consultation Zones • Policy 55: Nuisance from Artificial Light and Light Pollution • Policy 56: Noise Pollution • Policy 57: Air Quality • Policy 58A: Contaminated and Unstable Land: Contaminated Land • Policy 60A: Transport Standards and Accessibility Requirements: Existing Infrastructure • Policy 60B: Transport Standards and Accessibility Requirements: New Development Proposals OTHER POLICIES 11. The following supplementary guidance and documents are of particular importance in the assessment of this application:- • Supplementary Guidance - Air Quality (adopted in 2020) • Supplementary Guidance - Flood Risk and Flood Risk Assessments (adopted in 2021) • Supplementary Guidance - Forest & Woodland Strategy (adopted in 2020) • Supplementary Guidance - Green & Blue Infrastructure (adopted in 2020) • Supplementary Guidance - Landscape (adopted in 2020)
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• Supplementary Guidance - Placemaking (adopted in 2020) • Planning Guidance - Planning & Biodiversity • Supplementary Guidance - Renewable & Low Carbon Energy (draft) • Perth and Kinross Community Plan 2013/2023 • Perth and Kinross Local Transport Strategy (2010) NATIONAL GUIDANCE 12. The Scottish Government expresses its planning policies and guidance through the National Planning Framework, Planning Advice Notes, Creating Places, Designing Streets, National Roads Development Guide and a series of Circulars. Planning Advice Notes 13. The following Scottish Government Planning Advice Notes are likely to be of relevance to the proposal: • PAN 1/2011 Planning and Noise • PAN 2/2011 Planning and Archaeology • PAN 3/2010 Community Engagement • PAN 51 Planning, Environmental Protection and Regulation • PAN 61 Planning and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems • PAN 73 Rural Diversification • PAN 75 Planning for Transport PLANNING SITE HISTORY 14. 24/00580/SCRN on 6th May 2024 for installation of 49.9MW stand alone battery electricity storage system and ancillary equipment to connect to the grid at Abernethy Substation CONSULTATIONS 15. As part of the planning application process the following would be consulted: External • Scottish Environment Protection Agency • NatureScot • Scottish Water • Transport Scotland • Asset Protection Team (formerly National Gas) • Health and Safety Executive • Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust • Abernethy and District Community Council • Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
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Internal • Environmental Health – Noise, Odour, Private Water Supply and Contaminated Land • Community Greenspace including Access • Transportation and Development • Structures and Flooding • Economic Development • Biodiversity Officer KEY ISSUES AGAINST WHICH A FUTURE APPLICATION WILL BE ASSESSED 16. The key considerations against which the eventual application will be assessed include: a. Visual Impact b. Scale, Design and Layout (including cumulative impact) c. Relationship to Nearby Land Uses d. Natural Heritage and Ecology e. Landscape f. Water Resources and Soils g. Air Quality h. Transport Implications i. Tourism and Economy j. Impact on Agriculture k. Archaeology and Cultural Heritage ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WHICH WILL BE REQUIRED 17. Should an EIA Report not be required the following supporting documents will need to be submitted with any planning application: • Planning Statement • Design and Access Statement • Pre-Application Consultation (PAC) Report • Leisure/Economic Impact Assessment • Transport Assessment • Flood Risk and Drainage Assessment • Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment • Tree and Woodland Survey • Habitat Survey • Archaeological Assessment • Sustainability Assessment • Noise Impact Assessment • Construction Management Plan • Site Biodiversity Action Plan
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CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 18. This report summarises the key issues which should be considered as part of the appraisal of any subsequent planning application which may be lodged in respect of this development and members are recommended to note these key issues and advise officers of any other issues which they consider should be included as part of the application and assessment. Background Papers: None Contact Officer: Kirsty Strong – Ext 01738 475333 Date: 24 May 2024 DAVID LITTLEJOHN STRATEGIC LEAD - ECONOMY, DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING