East Renfrewshire Council’s Planning Applications Committee has voted down plans to construct a battery plant on greenbelt land in Eaglesham.
At a meeting of the committee on Thursday 31st October, a majority of councillors rejected the proposals to put in place a 40MW battery energy storage facility on land at the East Side of Glasgow Road and adjacent to the Belle Craig Roundabout.
The plans caused major controversy amongst local residents in Eaglesham and Waterfoot with the application attracting 251 valid objections.
One of those to object was Eastwood MSP, Jackson Carlaw and he has welcomed the decision of the council to reject the plans.
Mr Carlaw also sounded a note of caution in that as part of the Scottish Planning System, the developer will have an opportunity to appeal the council’s determination to the Scottish Government and ask for the local decision to be overturned.
Scottish Conservative MSP for Eastwood, Jackson Carlaw said:
“I am delighted that East Renfrewshire Council has rejected the unacceptable plans for a large-scale battery energy storage facility on the Eastwood greenbelt.
“The land on Glasgow Road that was subject to the planning application is marked as a greenfield site in the council’s Local Development Plan and it should not be torn up in favour of an unwanted battery plant.
“Large numbers of people in Eaglesham and Waterfoot made clear that they were strongly against the proposal and the correct decision has been made at council to refuse the application.
“However, local residents should be aware that the developer can choose to appeal the council’s decision to the Scottish Government Reporter so the verdict of councillors to refuse planning permission may not be the end of the matter.
“I am clear in my view that decisions on planning applications should be made locally and the determination made by a majority of the democratically elected representatives on East Renfrewshire’s Planning Applications Committee should be respected.”
