Site Layout

Public Consultation

Introduction

The purpose of an additional 2 consultation events was to inform you of the changes we are making to an approved proposal (APP/2023/0718) by Scot Stability Ltd for a renewable energy development comprising the installation of a Battery Energy Storage System with associated infrastructure and access, at land to the north of the Woods of Middleton, at Land At Middleton Of Blackford, Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire, AB51 8YN.

The two consultation events were to inform of the changes we've made and why we have made them, as well as invite comments from the local community which will be considered as the site design is developed. The second event will be held on 20th February 2025, and will provide feedback regarding the matters raised and how Scot Stability has accounted for this as per the first application.

The Site & Surroundings

The entire area of interest comprises one roughly rectangular parcel of agricultural land, which is part of a larger agricultural grade 3.1 field. The remaining field will be retained in agricultural use. The site is a relatively flat area sitting towards the highest part of a rise in the land. It is framed by a recent and significant electricity sub-station to the west, Ancient woodland to the south and the remaining field to the west and north. The wider area generally has a countryside characteristic with agricultural fields and a scattering of houses along narrow country roads, with some industrial appearance due to many overhead transmission lines and the sub-station.

Next Steps

Following this first pre-application consultation event, Scot Stability will take into consideration any comments submitted by interested parties, and also be used to frame ongoing pre-application discussions with the Council and other stakeholders. At this stage, it is expected that an application for planning permission will be submitted to Aberdeenshire Council in Spring 2025, with a decision expected during the summer. If planning application for the layout amendments is successful, we expect works to start in 2025, and for the site to start operating in Summer 2026. The application will be accompanied by an update of an already completed and approved suite of documents (where necessary), which will assess if the development changes are beneficial for all parties. These documents, in addition to the plans and specifications, will clearly illustrate the scale and form of development being proposed and to demonstrate its suitability for the site.

Your Feedback

The Applicant will take account of the comments made during this consultation stage to develop the proposals ahead of formal planning submission. Once the new planning application has been submitted, the full range of supporting documents will be available for public viewing on the Aberdeenshire Council website (the approved planning application can be found under reference APP/2023/0718) and we will also upload a copy of the documents to this webpage, www.rothienormanflexpower.com, which will be available to download until the end of the public consultation period. You will then have an opportunity to formally submit your representations on the application to Aberdeenshire Council as the local planning authority. Please note that any comments you submit to us are NOT considered to be representations to the application.

Contact Us

Thank you for your cooperation and for visiting this site. If you require further information, please contact us at [email protected] or +44 1242 500254.

If you'd like to provide feedback about the site, please fill out the Google Form at this link.

Application Details

The approved application details can be found here: APP/2023/0718

Legal statements

Full planning application has been sent to Aberdeenshire council, where the documents listed above have been sent as part of the application. The reference number for the application is:100624687-001 and can be seen on https://upa.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/online-applications/