Controversial battery storage plan approved

Councillors have unanimously approved controversial amended plans for a battery storage facility at Coupar Angus.

Planning permission was previously granted in 2019, but when the developer departed from the approved design a new application was needed.

Perth and Kinross Council’s newly named planning and placemaking committee met to consider the plans on Wednesday.

Arcus Consultancy Service Ltd submitted plans on behalf of the applicant Coronation Power Ltd for a battery storage system with associated works and infrastructure of up to 49.9 megawatts. The development is on land 130 metres south-east of

Coupar Angus Substation, Pleasance Road.

Objector Steve Galloway told the committee there were over 100 objections to the original application – approved by the committee – in 2019.

He said: “The battery storage facility was built off the incomplete and unbuildable plans presented to and approved by this committee.

“It was only because of the public bringing it to the council’s attention that the fact the development was being built at variance to the approved plan was even discovered and subsequently put on stop by Perth and Kinross Council.”

He told the committee large articulated lorries had used narrow routes to approach the development contrary to the transport development plan.

He raised concern the same developer Vickram Mirchandani – along with Arcus Consulting – was drawing up plans for a solar farm adjacent to the site.

Mr Galloway said the Markethill Solar Farm – almost 100 hectares in size – would be “larger than the whole of Coupar Angus itself ”.

The objector added: “Farcical public online consultations which showed no images, no 3D mock-ups, no technical details, and clearly showed no intention to take on any comments from the public show Mr Mirchandani is about to do the same on a monumental scale.

“They will destroy our rural environment in the name of green energy to simply line their pockets and then move on leaving us with an enormous eyesore for the next half century.”

Mr Galloway said his comments “do represent the views of many local people”.

SNP councillor Eric Drysdale said they were “strong accusations” and asked for evidence of other objectors.

Perth and Kinross Council’s report only recorded one objection to the re-application.

The developer’s planning consultant Tim Wheeler said: “We fully concur with the officers’ report that all of the necessary matters involved with the application have been properly addressed. The development won’t harm the local environment.

“It’s important to be aware energy storage is vital to achieving a transition to a low carbon economy and meeting the net zero target by 2045.”

Planning convener Ian Massie said: “This application helps to secure our energy requirements in the future.”

Charlie von Schmieder from Gresham House told the committee: “We have acquired the development from BIA Power – formerly Coronation Power – owned by Mr Mirchindani and developed by him so we will be the long-term managers of the battery storage project at Coupar Angus.”

He acknowledged breaches of the travel plan. Mr von Schmieder said they brought this “very clearly” to the attention of the contractor who made clear the delivery requirements to drivers.