Situated in close proximity to the Coylton substation and lying outside of any national or local environmental designations, the Westport BESS will support Scotland’s, and the wider UK’s, net-zero emissions target and help to deliver a reliable, resilient, decarbonised electricity system that can meet the demand needs of the 21st century.

John Hills, development project manager for RES, said: “We have designed the Westport BESS to sit sensitively into the local landscape and have carefully assessed and mitigated any potential cumulative effects to ensure a responsible development.

“We recognise the importance of addressing concerns about potential development impact and a key focus of our discussions with the community has been on effective landscaping and biodiversity enhancements. Whilst the natural terrain and existing planting already help limit the visibility of this critical infrastructure, we have developed a comprehensive landscaping plan to further reduce visual impact while delivering significant ecological benefits.

“Presenting this plan at our second exhibition reinforced our confidence that our approach to landscaping and biodiversity has been well-received locally. We are grateful to everyone who took the time to participate in our public consultation events and provide valuable feedback, which has helped shape the final application.”