East Lothian Planning Committee Members have agreed to object to plans for a solar farm and battery energy storage facility on land near Oldhamstocks, Dunbar.
The application had been called off the Scheme of Delegation by Councillor Collins due to extreme local concerns about the project and its potential impact on the local area. The application, by Voltalia UK Ltd, will be decided by the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU). East Lothian Council is a statutory consultee.
The plans involved an area of 20 agricultural fields, primarily used for rotational arable and livestock farming, interspersed with areas of woodland. The proposed solar farm and associated infrastructure would span 15 of these fields, including a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the northern end of the site. Some residential properties lie within the site boundary and others close by. Developers proposed to operate the site, which includes fencing, lighting and CCTV, for 40 years.
East Lothian Council received 51 objections to the plans for reasons including loss of agricultural land, environmental and biodiversity impact, landscape and visual impact, the effect on the character and amenity of the local community and road safety concerns. Local community councils also objected to the proposals.
Following a debate, committee members voted unanimously to uphold planners’ recommendation that the council strongly object to the proposal due to significant concerns regarding the adequacy of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report and the scale and nature of the potential impacts on the East Lammermuir area and beyond. Following a point made by Councillor McIntosh, a specific objection on access and recreation grounds will be amended to refer to not complying with Scottish access legislation.
As East Lothian Council has objected to the plans, raising significant concerns, it is now likely that Scottish Ministers will need to hold a Public Enquiry on the application.
Installation of a surface water drainage pipe on land East of Dunbar Garden Centre was approved by six votes to four. The application had been called off the Scheme of Delegation by Councillor Collins due to local concerns about flooding and possible environmental impact. Nine representations had been received with one making comment on the plans and eight objecting for reasons including the potential impact on local trees and animal species, the possible impact on a private septic tank and potential leakage into the Brox Burn from the septic tank. Local community councils also objected to the plans.
A proposal to continue the application for further talks with Scottish Water, SEPA and local residents, proposed by Councillor Collins, was outvoted seven votes to three. Committee members approved the application with an additional condition proposed by Councillor McMillan that, before the start of any work, a method statement be agreed by Scottish Water and the Planning Authority, including the applicant’s new proposal to replace the existing private septic tank as part of the work, if required.
Consent was granted for Bellway Homes Ltd and Buccleuch Property Development to build 339 houses, 24 flats, two commercial units and a play area on land south of Whitecraig, next to the primary school. A Pre Application Notice had been submitted and community consultation carried out. There will be a mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom houses and one and two-bedroom flats. Twelve semi-detached houses, 53 terraced houses, two bungalows and 24 flats will be affordable housing. The remaining 272 houses will be for private sale. Two objections had been received and one comment. Objections included concerns about flooding and increased traffic. Following a debate, committee members voted unanimously to approve the application, with additional conditions proposed by Councillor Hampshire that a timescale for construction of a bus turning circle be agreed in advance, as well as a delivery plan for the two retail units to be agreed by the planning authority prior to development starting. Other conditions included developer’s financial contributions for extra accommodation at Whitecraig Primary and Rosehill High School, sports and changing provision in Whitecraig, and road network improvements.
Two applications from Haven Leisure Ltd to extend occupancy in December on parts of the site at Seton Sands Holiday Village were approved unanimously. Current conditions allow caravans to be occupied seven days per week between 1 March and 30 November but weekends only between 1 and 23 December, then seven days per week between 24 December and 7 January. The site operators had applied to allow occupancy of caravans seven days a week throughout December. The change would still ensure that caravans could not be used as permanent homes. One letter of objection had been withdrawn before the committee meeting.
Committee members voted unanimously to confirm a Tree Preservation Order on a mature lime tree at Seggarsdean Terrace, Haddington. One objection had been received. The tree had previously been owned by East Lothian Housing Association and managed by East Lothian Council but it is now privately owned and maintained. The TPO prohibits any pruning or removal or the tree without prior written consent from the council.
The relevant application numbers are: Oldhamstocks, 25/00003/SGC; Dunbar, 24/01004/P; Whitecraig, 24/00902/PM; Seton Sands, 25/00770/PM and 25/00768/PM; Haddington, T.P.O. no. 151 (2025).