Notice is hereby given that ScottishPower Renewables (UK) Ltd, (company registration number NI028425, having their registered office at The Soloist, 1 Lanyon Place, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 3LP) has submitted additional information to the Scottish Ministers in relation to the application for consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to construct and operate a Solar photovoltaic and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) electricity generation station at Whitelee Windfarm, East Ayrshire (Central Grid Reference NS 517 455, E251749 N645527). The installed capacity of the generating station would be up to 90 megawatts. The proposed development is subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) under the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017. An EIA Report has been produced to accompany the application for consent.

ScottishPower Renewables (UK) Ltd has also asked that Scottish Ministers give a direction under section 57(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 that planning permission for the development be deemed to be granted.

ScottishPower Renewables (UK) Ltd has now submitted additional information to Scottish Ministers, which includes information in the form of Further Environmental Information (FEI) Report relating to the Habitat Management Plan (HMP), Noise Assessments and Private Water Supply Risk Assessment and Method Statements.

A copy of the application, including plans showing the lands to which it relates and the EIA Report, together with the additional information, is available for public inspection, free of charge on the application website via https://www.scottishpowerrenewables.com/pages/whitelee_solar_hydrogen_bess_.aspx or on the Scottish Government Energy Consents website at https://www.energyconsents.scot under application reference ECU00002198.

A hard copy of the application, together with the additional information, with a plan showing the land to which it relates, together with a copy of the supporting statement discussing the Company’s proposals in more detail and presenting an analysis of the environmental implications and a copy of the non-technical summary document, are available for public inspection in person, free of charge, during normal office hours at the following locations. Please note that the hard copy of the full application is available to view only following pre-arranged appointment with the Council, please contact the address below, on the following number, to arrange an appointment - 015 6355 4300:

Furthermore, copies of the additional information may be obtained from ScottishPower Renewables (UK) Ltd (telephone: 07598 607065 email whiteleesolarhydrogenbess@scottishpower.com) at a charge of £30 per hard copy and £10 per CD-Rom. Copies of the application and EIA Report are also available and copies of a short Non-Technical Summary are available free of charge.

All previous representations received by Scottish Ministers in relation to the above application will still be considered.

Any new representations may be submitted to Scottish Ministers via the Energy Consents Unit website at www.energyconsents.scot/Register.aspx; by email to the Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit mailbox at representations@gov.scot; or by post to the Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU, identifying the proposal and specifying the grounds for representation. Please note that there may be a delay in the Energy Consents Unit receiving representations by post.

Written or emailed representations should be dated, clearly stating the name (in block capitals) and full postal address of those making representations. Emailed representations should also include the full return email address of those making representations. Only representations sent by email to representations@gov.scot will receive acknowledgement.

All representations should be received no later than 17th November 2023, although Ministers may consider representations received after this date.

Any subsequent additional information which is submitted by the developer will be subject to further public notice in this manner, and representations to such information will be accepted as per this notice.

As a result of a statutory objection from the relevant planning authority, or where Scottish Ministers decide to exercise their discretion to do so, Scottish Ministers can also cause a Public Inquiry to be held.

Following examination of the environmental information, Scottish Ministers will determine the application for consent in one of two ways:

· Consent the proposal, with or without conditions attached; or

· Reject the proposal.

General Data Protection Regulations

The Scottish Government processes representations under the Electricity Act 1989. To support transparency in decision making, the Scottish Government publishes online at https://www.energyconsents.scot. A privacy notice is published on the help page at https://www.energyconsents.scot/Documentation.aspx. This explains how the Scottish Government processes your personal information. If you have any concerns about the processing of your personal information by the Scottish Government, please email EconsentsAdmin@gov.scot or write to Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU.