Ladyfield Renewable Energy Park Ltd: Proposal of Application Notice for the Installation and Operation of Approximately 3.2Km of Underground Electrical and Telecommunications Cabling and Associated Temporary Works Required to Connect the Ladyfield Renewable Energy Park to the Ssent Creag Dhubh Substation: Land Between Ladyfield Energy Park and Creag Dhubh Substation Approximately 8Km North of Inveraray (Ref: 26/00986/Pan)
Argyll and Bute Council · 19 August 2026
Back to Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee — 19 August 2026 and its agenda
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Argyll and Bute Council Development and Economic Growth PROPOSAL OF APPLICATION NOTICE ____________________________________________________________________________ Reference: 26/00986/PAN Applicant: Ladyfield Renewable Energy Park Ltd Proposal: Proposal of application notice for the installation and operation of approximately 3.2KM of underground electrical and telecommunications cabling and associated temporary works required to connect the Ladyfield Renewable Energy Park to the SSENT Creag Dhubh Substation. Site Address: Land Between Ladyfield Renewable Energy Park and Creag Dhubh substation Approximately 8KM North of Inveraray ____________________________________________________________________________ 1.0 BACKGROUND The submitted Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) is for the installation and operation of approximately 3.2KM of underground electrical and telecommunications cabling and associated temporary works required to connect the Ladyfield Renewable Energy Park to the SSEN Creag Dhubh Substation currently under construction by SSEN. Members are requested to note that a planning application is required in this instance as the applicants do not have permitted development rights as a statutory undertaker in respect of Electricity Undertakings under Class 40 of the GPDO. The electrical cabling will comprise 33kV infrastructure installed underground within a trench typically approximately 1.2m in width and buried at a depth of approximately 1.0-1.2m below ground level. Telecommunications cabling will also be installed in the same trench. The installation of the cabling will involve trench excavation, cabling laying, backfilling and restoration of the disturbed ground. Ladyfield Energy Park was granted S36 Consent by the Scottish Ministers on 02.05.2025. This comprises up to 13 wind turbines anticipated to generate around 58.5 megawatts (“MW”), and a battery electricity storage system (“BESS”) of around 41.4MW capacity. For general information the Planning Authority raised no objection to this proposal. A link to the company’s website in respect of the project which contains general information relating to the approved S36 Energy Park and the proposed grid connection which this PAN relates to is provided below. Ladyfield Renewable Energy Park The submitted PAN notice took effect from 09.06.2026 from which a minimum of 12 weeks must elapse prior to the submission of a formal application for planning permission. The proposed public consultation strategy set out in the PAN to undertake appropriate notifications and hold four public consultation events is considered to be acceptable and in accordance with the PAN regulations. As there was no PPSL in July the PAN is being reported to August PPSL. The Council has also recently undertaken an EIA screening for this proposal under REF 26/00852/SCREEN. It was the view of Officers that no EIA was required. 2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION
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The site comprises a linear area of land between the boundary of the Ladyfield Energy Park site and the Creag Dhubh substation. The underground cable will generally follow the line of the A819 and then branch off to the northwest at an appropriate point to connect to the substation. The intention of the applicant is to run the cable a close to the line of the road as possible. The Proposed Development is located within both public highway and a rural area of Argyll and Bute characterised by upland moorland and forestry areas. It’s anticipated that the area of works will be approximately 12m in width and the boundary to be used for planning refined accordingly. The Proposed Development is linear, located approximately 8km north of Inveraray, between National Grid Reference (NGR) 209092, 716491 and NGR 208806, 719448 (the Site). The cabling would be installed in the public highway verge, where feasible, in a northerly direction for approximately 1.9km. Where verge installation is not possible, installation would take place within the carriageway itself. After approximately 1.9km, the cabling would leave the A819 corridor and run northwest across upland / commercial forestry land for approximately 1.3km before connecting into the Creag Dhubh Substation. Some tree felling may be required, although this is likely to be minimal as works will utilise the existing access tracks and previously sterilised land where possible. Construction within the public highway corridor will require the implementation of traffic management measures, likely including temporary two-way traffic signals to maintain access in both directions. A temporary working area around the cabling trench will be required. Construction within the forestry / upland area will be facilitated by utilising the existing forestry tracks, and temporary tracks where forestry tracks are not currently present. Land uses along the route include public highway infrastructure associated with the A819, commercial forestry and areas of rough grazing. The Site lies within a sparsely populated area with limited residential receptors, with the nearest being North Tullich, approximately 500m from the Proposed Development. The northern section of the Site lies within the North Argyll Area of Panoramic Quality, a designated local landscape, while a portion along the A819 corridor is situated adjacent to the Glen Etive and Glen Fyne Special Protection Area (SPA) to the east. 3.0 DEVELOPMENT PLAN POLICY These PAN submissions are not a planning application and therefore do not require to be evaluated and determined in accordance with Section 25 of the Planning Act against the Development Plan at this stage. However, a number of Development Plan Policies will inform the assessment of any future detailed application. The relevant policies are set out below: LDP 2 Spatial and Settlement Strategy Policy 02 – Outwith Settlement Areas High-Quality Places Policy 09 – Sustainable Design Policy 15 – Protection, Conservation and Enhancement of Our Historic Environment Policy 16 – Listed Buildings Policy 17 – Conservation Areas Policy 19 – Scheduled Monuments Policy 20 – Gardens and Designed Landscapes Policy 21 – Sites of Archaeological Importance
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Diverse and Sustainable Economy Policy 22 – Economic Development Policy 30 – The Sustainable Growth of Renewables Sustainable Communities Policy 55 – Flooding Policy 57 – Risk Appraisals Policy 58 – Private Water Supplies and Water Conservation Policy 59 – Water Quality and the Environment Policy 63 – Waste Related Development and Waste Management High-Quality Environment Policy 71 – Development Impact on Local Landscape Areas (LLA’s) Policy 73 – Development Impact on Habitats, Species and Biodiversity Policy 74 – Development Impact of Sites International and National Importance Policy 78 – Woodland Removal Policy 79 – Protection of Soil and Peat Resources Policy 80 – Geodiversity National Planning Framework 4 This is a statutory Plan for the purposes of determining Planning Applications under Section 25 of the Planning Act and therefore NPF 4 Policies will also have to be considered in the determination of any future planning application. Sustainable Places NPF4 Policy 1 – Tackling the Climate and Nature Crises NPF4 Policy 2 – Climate Mitigation and Adaption NPF4 Policy 3 – Biodiversity NPF4 Policy 4 – Natural Places NPF4 Policy 5 – Soils NPF4 Policy 6 – Forestry, Woodland and Trees NPF4 Policy 7 – Historic Assets and Places NPF4 Policy 11 – Energy Liveable Places NPF4 Policy 22 – Flood Risk and Water Management NPF4 Policy 24 – Digital Infrastructure Productive Places NPF4 Policy 25 – Community Wealth Building NPF4 Policy 29 – Rural Development 4.0 POTENTIAL MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS Material considerations include: • Statutory/Non-Statutory Consultee Comments/ • Third Party Comments • Comments from Area Roads Manager in respect of the potential impacts on the operation of the A819 will be of particular importance in respect of considering and future proposals and a
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Construction Traffic Management Plan will be required. (It is noted and welcomed that this matter has already been recognised by the applicants in their screening submissions). 5.0 CONCLUSION This report sets out the information submitted to date as part of the PAN. Summarised are the policy considerations, against which any future planning application will be considered as well as potential material considerations. The list is not exhaustive, and further matters may arise as and when any planning application is received, and in the light of public representations and consultation responses. Officers are content that the steps set out within the PAN are acceptable and in accordance with the necessary community engagement requirements. 6.0 RECOMMENDATION That Members have regard to the content of the report and submissions and provide such feedback as they consider appropriate in respect of the submitted PAN to allow these matters to be considered by the Applicant in finalising any future planning application submissions. Author of Report: David Moore Date: 27.07.2026 Reviewing Officer: Sandra Davies Date: 28.07.2026 Fergus Murray Head of Development & Economic Growth