Plans for West Lothian solar farm stretching nearly 200 acres to go before councillors

Plans to build a solar farm on the fringe of the Pentland Hills Regional Park will go before West Lothian Council in September.

Almost 200 acres of open farmland a mile south of Kirknewton could be converted into hundreds of panels and a battery storage substation, creating an industrial site that would remain in place for the next 40 years.

The Council’s Development Management Committee delayed a decision this week as the meeting did not have enough members to be quorate.

The plans have to come before the next meeting of the full council, all 33 members, on September 22.

Trio Power Ltd has applied for planning permission to build a 40-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) installation across an 188-acre site, currently open fields, on the eastern and western sides of Leyden Road, which connects the main A70 Lang Whang road to Kirknewton.

The proposed development will consist of 9ft high solar panel modules, security fencing and access paths, as well as the substation.

Papers presented to the DMC today (Wednesday) outlined: “The proposed battery energy storage (BESS) will be located in a compound adjacent to and accessed from Leyden Road. The BESS will have a capacity of 9 MW. The BESS compound will include a power conversion system (PCS) which enables the batteries to switch between inverter and charging modes.”

A report to councillors added: “The site is made up of a number of fields separated by Leyden Road and with established tree belts. The topography of the site is typically undulating with the general slope downwards to the north.

“The site is rural in nature, consisting of predominantly Class 4.2 with some Class 3.2 for land capability for agricultural and is land mainly used for arable farming and grazing.

“There are a number of residential properties in proximity to the site, predominantly the Newlands residential area to the east of the site. Other rural residential or farmhouse developments are also nearby.”

The proposed solar arrays are laid out in two separate groups, either side of Leyden Road, utilising existing field accesses.

The papers added: “The proposed development includes supporting infrastructure such as transformers, onsite cabling and a substation and control building. The development also includes security fencing, CCTV and on-site access tracks.

“The operational life of the proposed development will be 40 years with the proposed construction period to be between eight to 12 months. The proposed grid connection will be to the Currie substation to the east.”

The application has attracted 47 objections. There are only three letters of support, including one from Kirknewton Community Council.

Planning officers have recommended granting planning permission with conditions.

Two other solar farms have already been granted development approval in the northern part of the county.

Objectors say that the plans will convert productive, viable farmland in open country into an industrial complex that will remain in place until 2066.

Others voice concerns about the disruption to narrow rural roads, loss of natural habitat and wildlife on the fringe of a country park which is popular with walkers.

One wrote to the council to say: “I have lived near a solar farm in Lancashire and could hear a constant hum which is not conducive to peaceful living.”