Developers behind one of Scotland’s biggest solar schemes on Angus farmland have been granted a two-year extension to the project start date.
The 50MW Berryhill scheme was approved in 2022 after an Angus Council planning refusal was successfully appealed to the Scottish Government.
It will sit on land south of the Piperdam resort and west of Fowlis village.
Those behind the project say it will generate enough energy to power around 12,500 homes – the equivalent of a third of all the houses in Angus.
But there have been delays in securing a grid connection.
Berryhill Solar Farm Ltd was told it must start work on the project within three years.
If the scheme did not commence by 2025 planning permission would lapse.
And the company would have to submit a new application.
Berryhill grid connection contract delayed
A senior project manager for developer Solar 2 described Berryhill as a “significant achievement” for Scotland’s renewable industry.
Perth-based John Moisey said: “It is a significant contribution from the Angus area towards Scotland’s net zero goals.”
He said the original grid extension had been contracted for October 2024.
“Since permission was granted the distribution network operator has adjusted the timeline to the later date of August 2026.”
Development standards councillors considered the extension application this week.
They said it was an “entirely reasonable” request.
The committee heard there are no other changes planned for the solar farm in terms of the equipment and layout which was approved.
Planning official Alan Hunter said: “To emphasise, the applicant could implement the current permission immediately.
“If they proposed different technology, to increase the capacity that’s a different matter. That may well require a different application.
“And if the output for the development exceeds 50MW the consenting process for the development would be different.”
Committee convener David Cheape said: “The applicant could simply go along and put a spade in the ground, pause and then re-start work when they have a grid connection.”
Mr Moisey told councillors it would be “disingenuous” to make a token start to Berryhill and then put it on hold.
“We try to make everything line up the right way,” he said.
Construction work should begin in earnest around 18 months prior to the connection to the grid.
And the committee was advised that the 40-year permission for the solar farm to operate does not kick in until the point when the first green energy is generated.
“Common sense” request for time extension
Montrose councillor Kenny Braes said: “I think it’s entirely appropriate for the applicant to want to delay construction.
“For a start it costs an awful lot of money to put up this solar farm and they need to have income to do that.
“There’s no point putting panels in place until you are ready to generate, it’s common sense.”
Sidlaws member Lloyd Melville added: “This is a completely reasonable request.
“We need to do everything we can to make it easier for people to generate renewable energy so I wholeheartedly support this.”
Councillors unanimously agreed to grant the two-year extension.
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