24/00013/Pan
Perth and Kinross Council · 8 January 2025
Back to Planning and Placemaking Committee — 8 January 2025 and its agenda
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Perth and Kinross Council Planning and Placemaking Committee – 8 January 2025 Pre-Application Report by Strategic Lead - Economy, Development and Planning (Report No. 25/2) PROPOSAL: Formation of a 49.9MW battery energy storage system and associated works LOCATION: Land 380 metres north east of St Annes, Monorgan, Longforgan, Dundee, DD2 5HT Ref. No: 24/00013/PAN Ward No: P1- Carse of Gowrie Summary This report is to inform the Committee of a potential forthcoming planning application in respect of a major development for the formation of a 49.9MW battery energy storage system and associated works on land 380 Metres North East of St Annes, Monorgan, Longforgan, Dundee, DD2 5HT. 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 5 November 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 the formation of a 49.9MW battery energy storage system 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.
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PRE-APPLICATION PROCESS 4. The PoAN (reference 24/00013/PAN) confirmed that two public exhibitions will be held at Errol Village Hall, Errol, PH2 7QH. The first event on 26 November 2024 between 12pm and 6pm and the second event on 14 December 2024 between 12pm and 6pm (due to unforeseen circumstances this event did not take place). The Ward Councillors, Longforgan Community Council, and Invergowrie and Kingoodie 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. It should be noted that following the first event and cancellation of the second event, the applicant has indicated that they are now proposing a further two events in January 2025 at Longforgan Bowling Club, for which we are still in discussions regarding dates. The third event has been proposed following feedback at the first event from attendees that Errol Village Hall was not a practical location. 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 2: Climate Mitigation and Adaptation • 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 15: Play, Recreation and Sport • Policy 20: Blue and Green Infrastructure • Policy 22: Flood Risk and Water Management
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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. The principal relevant policies are, in summary; • Policy 1A: Placemaking • Policy 1B: Placemaking • Policy 2: Design Statements • Policy 6: Settlement Boundaries • Policy 15: Public Access • Policy 26B: Scheduled Monuments and Archaeology: Archaeology • Policy 27A: Listed Building • Policy 31: Other Historic Environment Assets • Policy 33A: Renewable and Low Carbon Energy: New Proposals for Renewable and Low-Carbon Energy • Policy 35: Electricity Transmission Infrastructure • Policy 38A: Environment and Conservation: International Nature Conservation Sites • Policy 38B: Environment and Conservation: National Designations • 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 47: River Tay Catchment Area • 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 55: Nuisance from Artificial Light and Light Pollution • Policy 56: Noise Pollution • 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 • Policy 61: Airfield Safeguarding OTHER POLICIES 10. The following non statutory guidance and documents are of particular importance in the assessment of this application:
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• Supplementary Guidance - Airfield Safeguarding (adopted in 2020) • Supplementary Guidance - Developer Contributions & Affordable Housing (adopted in 2020) • Supplementary Guidance - Flood Risk and Flood Risk Assessments (adopted in 2021) • Supplementary Guidance - Green & Blue Infrastructure (adopted in 2020) • Supplementary Guidance - Landscape (adopted in 2020) • Supplementary Guidance - Placemaking (adopted in 2020) • Planning Guidance - Loch Leven SPA, the Dunkeld-Blairgowrie Lochs SAC and the River Tay SAC • 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 11. 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 12. The following Scottish Government Planning Advice Notes are likely to be of relevance to the proposal: • PAN 2/2011 Planning and Archaeology • PAN 3/2010 Community Engagement • PAN 40 Development Management • PAN 51 Planning, Environmental Protection and Regulation • PAN 61 Planning and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems • PAN 73 Rural Diversification • PAN 75 Planning for Transport • Energy Storage: Planning Advice (2011) PLANNING SITE HISTORY 13. None. CONSULTATIONS 14. As part of the planning application process the following would be consulted: External • Scottish Environment Protection Agency • NatureScot
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• Scottish Water • Historic Environment Scotland • Forestry Commission Scotland • Health and Safety Executive • Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust • Longforgan Community Council • Invergowrie and Kingoodie Community Council • Dundee Airport • RSPB • Scottish Fire and Rescue Internal • Environmental Health (Contaminated Land, Private Water, Noise/Odour) • Planning and Housing Strategy • Development Contributions Officer • Community Greenspace including Access • Transportation and Development • Structures and Flooding • Biodiversity Officer KEY ISSUES AGAINST WHICH A FUTURE APPLICATION WILL BE ASSESSED 15. The key considerations against which the eventual application will be assessed include: a. Visual Impact b. Scale, Design and Layout 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 16. 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 • Economic Impact Assessment • Transport Assessment • Flood Risk and Drainage Assessment
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• Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment • Tree and Woodland Survey • Habitat Survey • Archaeological Assessment • Sustainability Assessment • Grid Connection Site Survey • Construction Method Statement CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 17. 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 Date: 20 December 2024 DAVID LITTLEJOHN STRATEGIC LEAD – ECONOMY, DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING