A SPRAWLING electricity substation will be built in the Perthshire countryside after councillors unanimously passed plans yesterday.
The application for the 17-acre facility in east Perthshire was of such a scale it had to come before the whole council.
Despite councillors asking questions on topics ranging from flooding to osprey nesting, no objections were raised to the scheme.
A wrangle over land needed for the site still has to be overcome before building work can begin on the substation, which will eventually be the size of seven football pitches.
It will be constructed on land North-West of Haughend Farm, near Meigle.
Developers Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) say the sub-station is a vital part of the Keith to Kincardine East Coast Reinforcement Project.
Hundreds of miles of power lines running down the eastern side of Scotland will be upgraded.
The work is needed to support increasing numbers of renewable energy schemes, which must be connected to the national grid.
The Scottish Government has pledged to make Scotland self-sufficient through green energy in the future.
Under the plans, the sub-station and necessary roads infrastructure around it will be built over 18 months and will last for four decades.
Watching in the public gallery was Hugh Stewart, owner of Haughend Farm, who faced the loss of a working field after the permission was given.
He is in negotiations with SSE over the land but could lose it through a compulsory purchase order.
He made no comment after yesterday’s meeting.
Ian Miller, leader of the council, moved the application be approved, in line with the opinion of Perth and Kinross Council planning officers.
He said: “The consultation the company (SSE) held with communities has been comprehensive.
“It has included public meetings and the way they have handled it has been an example to others.
“I want to thank the applicants for the efforts taken in carrying that out.
“This is an essential part of the upgrading of the national grid.”
The substation includes an extensive network of transformers, switchgear, support structures, a control building and overhead line towers.
They will be housed behind a compound fence, to be built around the complex.
Natural screening will be put in place to shield properties at Haughend Farm and the surrounding area from its visual impact.
Development quality manager Nick Brian said the maximum height of the new structures will be 36ft, dwarfed by the 147ft pylons, which are already in place.
Two sides of the development will be screened by established trees.
He acknowledged there were constraints but confirmed alternative sites had been examined.
Mr Brian said they were limited by the need to be close to the existing power lines and the chosen location was the best.
He confirmed this would be the only station of its type needed in Perth and Kinross and fears of future flooding are unfounded.
A nesting site for the area’s much-loved ospreys has been provided.
A spokesperson for SSE said: “The transmission network owned and managed by Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited was originally designed to serve rural communities with relatively low-level demands for electricity.
“This increase in requests for renewable generation connections to the electricity network is placing a new and significant requirement on the transmission system that exceeds the existing capacity on the east coast.”
arichardson@thecourier.co.uk