Eastwood MSP Jackson Carlaw is urging residents to show their opposition to a planning proposal that has already received several objections.

An application has been submitted to East Renfrewshire Council for the construction and operation of a 40MW battery energy storage facility on land at the east side of Glasgow Road near Eaglesham.

The application, which has so far attracted 14 objections, also seeks approval to install associated ancillary infrastructure, a substation, transformers, lighting and a perimeter fence.

Mr Carlaw told the Barrhead News: “I have very serious reservations about the appropriateness of introducing a battery energy storage facility on the site at Glasgow Road and it would represent an intrusive new development for local people who reside in Eaglesham and Waterfoot.

“The proposed site on Glasgow Road is designated as greenbelt in the council’s approved Local Development Plan (LDP) and not for the introduction of a battery plant.

“As the land in Eaglesham has not been allocated for the purposes of a new battery energy storage facility in the council’s LDP and is marked as a greenfield site, this should surely represent strong grounds for a rejection of the plans."

The proposed site is next to the roundabout at the A726 Glasgow Southern Orbital and just a short distance along from Low Borland Way.

It is also adjacent to Holehouse Road, the Eaglesham Cemetery and the White Cart Water.

Barrhead News:

The Scottish Conservative politician highlighted that the deadline for commenting on the proposal of Thursday, May 23 is fast approaching. 

“I will be formally opposing the planning application and I urge all local residents who are against the proposal to object,” he added.

In response to Mr Carlaw, a spokesperson for Apatura, the renewable energy developer behind the plans, said that battery storage facilities such as this "play a fundamental role in tackling the climate emergency, as we decarbonise the electricity grid network."

“Electricity from renewable energy sources, such as wind and sunshine, which is intermittent in nature, is stored in rechargeable batteries at times of low demand and then exported back into the National Grid at times of high demand," they added.

“The proposals for this facility at Eaglesham are fully policy compliant, as we look to deliver the Scottish Government climate change target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045."

They also said that battery storage facilities have to be located within close proximity of a viable grid connection that has sufficient capacity to import and export power, storing this and releasing it into the grid at times of peak demand. 

"The ability to find connections with sufficient capacity is severely limited around the country," added the spokesperson. 

"Where possible, we take a brownfield first approach to site selection.

"Nonetheless, the availability of any site depends on a willing landowner and often brownfield sites are on industrial estates which have been allocated for specific purposes such as employment use, or landowners are keen for them to be developed for housing.”

To view and comment on the plans click HERE.

Residents can also comment on the proposal by emailing the council at planning@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk or writing to the head of Place at 2 Spiersbridge Way, Thornliebank, East Renfrewshire, G46 8NG, quoting the application's reference number of 2024/0168/TP.