Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the North Planning Applications Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Tuesday 4 June at 10.00 am. 
You are invited to attend and a note of the business to be considered is attached. 
Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter. 
Members are reminded that during determination of any item before this Committee they must be present throughout the whole of that item in order to be entitled to participate. 
Members are further reminded that mobile devices, including mobile phones, can be used for following the agenda/reports and delivering speeches but should not be used for any form of communication (text or tweet) during the meeting. 

Yours faithfully 

Rhoda Banfro, Acting Principal Solicitor – Planning 
(for Head of Legal and Governance)

1.Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulan

2.Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting.  Any Member making a declaration of interest should provide some information on the nature of the interest and leave the meeting at the appropriate time.  Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3.Confirmation of Minutes    
Dearbhadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais

There are submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of Meeting of the North Planning Applications Committee held on 16 April 2024.

4.Major Development Update    
Iarrtasan Mòra

There is circulated Report No PLN/038/24 by the Area Planning Manager - North which, provides a summary of all cases within the “Major” development category currently with the Planning and Development Service for determination. The report also details progress on proposals submitted under S36 or S37 of the Electricity Act 1989 on which the Council is consulted.

The Committee is invited to note the current position of these applications.

5.Major Developments – Pre-application consultations    
Leasachaidhean Mòra – Co-chomhairle Ro-iarrtais

5.1 
Description: Proposed development of a 49.9MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) 
at Spittal, Caithness (24/01076/PAN) (PLN/039/24)
Ward: 03 - Wick and East Caithness    
Applicant: Fig Power LTD
Site Address: Caithness Flagstone Limited, Spittal Mains Quarry, Spittal, Wick

5.2 
Description: Hardstanding area to accommodate vehicle access, parking, loading and unloading, an office, 3 x crane set up areas, and a main turbine component storage area (24/01461/PAN) (PLN/040/24)
Ward: 02 – Thurso and North West Caithness
Applicant: SSE Renewables PLC 
Site Address: Land 450M West Of Pennyland Farm, Thurso.

5.3 
Description: Laying of underground cabling to link Bettyhill Wind Farm Phase 2 and Dounreay substation (24/01312/PAN) (PLN/041/24)
Ward: 01 - North, West And Central Sutherland
Applicant: Bettyhill 2 Wind Ltd.
Site Address: Land 2375M SE Of Cairnview, Bettyhill

5.4 
Description: Erection of temporary accommodation, welfare and recreational buildings for staff.  Formation of access and parking (24/01638/PAN) (PLN/042/24)
Ward: 10 - Eilean A' Cheò    
Applicant: Sodexo Energy & Resources
Site Address: Land 220M SW Of Tigh Na Greine, Broadford, Skye

5.5 
Description: Construction and operation of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) of up to 300 MW with associated infrastructure (including cable route to substation), access and ancillary works (including landscaping and biodiversity enhancement) (24/01640/PAN) (PLN/043/24)
Ward: 03 – Wick and East Caithness 
Applicant: Field Spittal Limited    
Site Address: SSE DC Site Spittal Sub Station, Halkirk

6. Planning Applications to be Determined    
Iarrtasan Dealbhaidh rin Dearbhadh

There are circulated Reports Nos PLN/044/24 to PLN/050/24 by the Area Planning Manager - North which are as follows:-

6.1  
Applicant: Offshore Wind Power Limited (23/05353/PIP) (PLN/044/24)
Location: AC Site Spittal Sub Station, Halkirk (Ward 02).
Nature of Development: Erection and operation of onshore substation, underground electricity cables, cable landfall, transition joint bays, cable joint bays, construction compounds, new and upgraded access tracks and associated infrastructure.
Recommendation: GRANT

6.2 
Applicant: Arise AB (21/04984/S36) (PLN/045/24)
Location: Land At Tormsdale 1500M South Of Bridge Of Westerdale, Halkirk (Ward 03).
Nature of Development: Tormsdale Wind Farm - Erection and operation of wind farm for period of 30 years, comprising of 10 wind turbines with maximum blade tip height of 149.9m, access tracks, substation, control building, Battery Energy Storage System, and ancillary infrastructure.
Recommendation: RAISE OBJECTION
     
6.3 
Applicant: RWE Renewables UK Onshore Wind Ltd (23/05188/S36) (PLN/046/24)
Location: Land 2040M NE Of Bulreanrob, Lybster (Ward 03).
Nature of Development: Golticlay Wind Farm Redesign - Erection and operation of a wind farm for a period of 35 years, comprising up to 13 wind turbines, 11 with a maximum blade tip height of 200m, 2 with a maximum blade tip height of 180m, access tracks, borrow pits, substation, control building, metrological mast, and ancillary infrastructure.
Recommendation: RAISE NO OBJECTION 
     
6.4 
Applicant: Mr Ross Lambie (23/05735/MSC) (PLN/047/24)
Location: Land 70M SW Of Tigh Na Greine, Broadford (Ward 10).
Nature of Development: Erection of house.
Recommendation: GRANT 
     
6.5  
Applicant: Highland Council (24/00364/FUL) (PLN/048/24)
Location: Avonlea, West Banks Avenue, Wick (Ward 03).
Nature of Development: Internal and External Alterations to change the building from a Children's Unit to an Educational Facility (Appendix to Wick High School).
Recommendation: GRANT 
     
6.6 
Applicant: Cornerstone (22/06232/FUL) (PLN/049/24)
Location: Land 440m Southeast of Burnbrae, Quarry, Glenelg (Ward 05).
Nature of Development: Erection of a 25m high lattice tower, ancillary equipment and new access track.
Recommendation: GRANT
     
6.7  
Applicant: Mr Duncan Fraser (22/03003/FUL) (PLN/050/24)
Location: Land 40M NE Of Marsden, Knockbain, Munlochy (Ward 09).
Nature of Development: Erection of house.
Recommendation: GRANT
     
7.Decision of Appeals to the Scottish Government Planning and Environmental Appeals Division    
Co-dhùnadh mu Iarrtas do Bhuidheann-stiùiridh Riaghaltas na h-Alba airson Lùth agus Atharrachadh Aimsir

Applicant:  Mr Ewen Ross (21/00107/ENF) (ENA-270-2044) 
Location:  Land by Achingale, Easter Kinkell, Conlon Bridge, IV7 8HY
Nature of Enforcement: unauthorised building, engineering or other operations on the above land by the establishment of a polytunnel on the land without the required planning permission.
 
The Committee is invited to note the decision of the Reporter to uphold the enforcement notice but allow the appeal to the extent that the terms of the notice have been varied by deleting the words “shown edged orange” and replacing them with the words “shown edged and cross-hatched in purple”, and by changing the time period for compliance with part (i) to six weeks.