Latest news with #NationalScenic
The National
29-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Controversial plans for Scottish Borders energy plant shelved
An application was submitted to Scottish Borders Council last month by Green Switch Energy to build a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on land north-east of Sawmill Cottage, off the B6360 road, near Gattonside. The energy company wanted to build 20 battery containers, ten transformers, a substation and new access road, but Green Switch Energy has now informed the local community it has decided not to move forward with the proposed energy storage project, citing 'planning and commercial' reasons for the decision. READ MORE: The 44 Scottish firms named and shamed for failing to pay minimum wage A spokesperson for the company said: 'This decision comes after an internal review of planning and commercial considerations. 'While this site is no longer viable for us, we remain committed to playing our part in building a more resilient and sustainable energy system across the UK with other renewable energy generation and energy storage projects. We also continue to explore opportunities that align with our goals in this part of the country. 'We'd like to sincerely thank everyone who took the time to engage with the early stages of this project. We appreciate the conversations we've had with residents and stakeholders over the past months.' READ MORE:John Swinney urged to intervene and scrap Flamingo Land plans at fiery FMQs A campaign group, No to Gattonside Batteries, was set up to oppose the plans for the building of the site, following growing fears that the Scottish countryside could become a "concrete jungle" with the volume of proposed battery storage sites. Concerns were raised over the impact it could have on the local landscape and wildlife, as well as any potential fire risk. The site earmarked for the development is part of a designated National Scenic Area, and borders a stretch of the Southern Upland Way which boasts views over the Eildon Hills and River Tweed, near Melrose.
STV News
22-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
Plans to turn former Jehovah's Witness meeting hall into juice bar lodged
Plans to convert a former Jehovah's Witness meeting hall to a juice bar and cafe in Stornoway are among recent planning applications made to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. The application would change the use of the former Jehovah's Witnesses meeting hall at 30 Church Street into a juice bar and cafe. The proposal would see the upper floor space of the former meeting hall being converted to designs by DBM Design and Engineering for the applicant, Joanna Morrison. Details of the proposals can be found on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's online planning portal, with a deadline for comments on Monday June 2. Meanwhile plans for a new house to be built at 3a Horgabost, Isle of Harris, have been submitted to the Comhairle by local resident, Johnathon MacKay. The project proposed is a single storey, four-bedroomed family home with a domestic garage in the village, located to the east of the village, and documents submitted with the application state the proposed site is within croft land currently owned (tenant) by a relative of the applicant on the opposite side of the road from the original croft house, and situated approximately 70m off the village road. Designs for the house, by MacIver Consultancy Services, detail that the development is located in a National Scenic Area and state that 'the position of the site has been carefully chosen in order to be low-lying in the topography of the area to reduce its visual impact.' Details of the proposals can be found on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's online planning portal. An application for planning permission in principle has been submitted to the Comhairle for the erection of a dwelling house at 17c Valtos, Uig, Isle of Lewis, on croft land at 16-17 Valtos, by Malcolm MacDonald of Valtos. Design drawings, by Total Design (Lighthill) Ltd, submitted with the application outline that the proposed house would have an 'indicative footprint' of 12ms x 8ms. An application to change the use of a storage shed and 'ancillary residential cabin' to form two units of holiday accommodation at Cuithir House, Grean, Isle of Barra, has been submitted to the Comhairle by Phillip Harvey of Barradise Ltd. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
