Scottish Government confirm ICT battery farm appeal registered as Highland Council asked to respond

THE Scottish Government has confirmed Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s appeal for its application to build a battery energy storage facility has been registered.

Highland Council have now been asked to respond to the appeal from the football club to build a battery energy storage facility at Fairways.

Earlier this year, ICT Battery Storage Ltd applied to build 52 battery storage containers on a 1.7 hectare site behind Fairways Business Centre. The development was worth an estimated £3.4 million if it received approval.

The proposal, which was recommended for refusal by planners, received approval to go ahead by the South Planning Applications Committee by three votes to two in February.

However, the application was recalled six days later after receiving approval, to go before a full Highland Council meeting.South Planning Applications Committee chairman Thomas MacLennan and vice-chairman Paul Oldham emailed members, argued not enough councillors took part in the South Planning Applications Committee vote.

At a full Highland Council meeting held in March, councillors voted to reject the application by 30 votes to 23, with three abstaining.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle have appealed the decision with the Scottish Government.

An update from the Scottish Government says the club’s appeal has been registered. Members of the public are asked to make comments by the end of the month. Highland Council has also been asked to respond to the club’s appeal.

It said: “The appeal has been registered and the planning authority have been asked for their response to the appeal.

“The period for interested members of the public to make representation ends on July 31. Any representations received by the deadline will be passed to the planning authority and agent/appellant for their comments.”

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