A PUBLIC inquiry will be held into controversial plans for Scotland’s largest solar farm.
Voltalia are behind the plans for a solar farm and battery energy storage system (BESS) for 180 hectares of land near Oldhamstocks; the company took its proposed development to East Lothian Council last year.
Councillors voted to object to the proposals, as they questioned claims it was “essential infrastructure”.
However, the development will be considered by the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit.
Now, the case has been referred to Planning and Environmental Appeals Division for a public local inquiry.
A council spokesperson said: “We will be contesting the proposals and welcome the public inquiry.
“In November, our planning committee unanimously agreed to strongly object to the proposal due to, amongst other things, significant concerns regarding the adequacy of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report, the scale and nature of the potential impacts on the East Lammermuir area and beyond, and impact on public access and recreation.
“Local community councils also objected to the proposals.
“Our objections and our position remain unchanged.”
Voltalia, which has offices in nearly 20 countries across the world, was approached for comment by the Courier.
Plans were submitted to East Lothian Council in the summer of last year.
According to the planning papers, the proposed solar farm and associated infrastructure would span 15 fields, with an estimated generating capacity of about 165MW.
Meanwhile, the battery energy storage system and associated infrastructure is proposed for the northern end of the site, with an estimated capacity of 80MW.
At the planning committee meeting, councillors raised concerns about the proposals.
Councillor Donna Collins, who represents the Dunbar and East Linton ward on the local authority, said that the suggestion by developers that only a small part of the fields could be considered “prime agricultural land” did not mean the rest was not suitable for food production.
She added: “They make out the land is unusable and they can’t do anything with it.
“It is the same as the land I have, and I can grow wheat and barley and potatoes in it.”
Concerns were expressed that the development would be the “size of a new town” and take over 20 agricultural fields.
Residents, some of whom would be living just 50 metres from the new solar farm, also raised concerns about the health and safety of women in particular, who would go from walking in open countryside to walking through “closed corridors of fencing lined with CCTV”.
Following the meeting, Voltalia issued a statement.
A spokesperson for the company said: “Whilst we are disappointed with the decision from East Lothian Council at the committee, the Springfield Solar Farm represents a significant contribution towards the green energy transition in Scotland.
“The approval of this project by the Energy Consents Unit would mark a major milestone on the road to net zero and significantly contribute towards Scotland’s ambitious climate targets.
“The Springfield Solar Farm would generate up to 165MW of clean green energy and has been designed to enable sheep grazing beneath the panels, supporting dual-use of land for farming and energy.
“Although we recognise the site boundary area is 184 hectares, a total area of 113 hectares will be used for solar panels and 0.9 hectares for the battery energy storage system and substation compound, with the remaining land used for habitat mitigation and enhancement, or returned to normal farming practice.
“The site has been developed following a long period of due diligence to ensure the proposals best fit the requirements of national renewable energy infrastructure, taking into account all environmental, technical, social and commercial considerations.
“Our plans have been shaped through consultation with local stakeholders at consultation events, community group discussions and ad-hoc meetings.
“Our response to the climate emergency needs to reflect the scale of the huge challenge the planet faces.
“Whether it is generating thousands of gigawatt-hours of green electricity, saving tonnes of CO2 from polluting the atmosphere or delivering a positive biodiversity net gain through 120 hectares of new planting, the Springfield Solar Farm will make a serious contribution to Scotland’s climate goals.”
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