Informing Local Action
Providing information for the community to oppose proposed BESS sites in Rothienorman.
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This website has been created to educate and inform the local community on objecting to proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) sites. Our primary focus is on empowering community members to voice their concerns and stand against BESS developments. Together, we emphasize the collective power of local residents working in unity to protect their environment and rights.
Key dates and next steps
Site 6 = Blackford Energy Park BESS 500MW site
Main application has gone live on Energy Consents Unit on 14th July 2025 - ECU00006121
**OBJECT NOW - Click here for a TEMPLATE OBJECTION EMAIL, a TEMPLATE OBJECTION LETTER or here for BACKGROUND DOCUMENT**
Expiry Date for Comment is Tuesday 26th August 2025
You can object now = Representations can either be made via email to Representations_Mailbox@gov.scot or in writing by post to Energy Consents Unit, Scottish Government, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU. In your representation to the Scottish Government, you should identify the proposal and specify the grounds for representation. Representations should be dated and should clearly state the name (in block capitals) and full return email or postal address of those making the representation.
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Site 5 = Fairfield (Colpy Road)
Planning application is live on Aberdeenshire Council Planning Portal - APP/2025/1015​
Expiry Date for Comment was Thursday 14th 2025 - objections are still being loaded to the website - we are waiting for Aberdeenshire Council to review the application and objections - the Statutory Determination Deadline is Friday 14th November 2025.
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Additional application for planning changes is live - APP/2025/0453
Expiry Date for Comment was Thursday 05 June 2025 - there were 52 objections - we are waiting for Aberdeenshire Council to review the application and objections - the Statutory Determination Deadline is Tuesday 27th Aug 2025.
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​Site 3 = Middleton of Blackford 49.9MW
Additional application for planning changes is live - APP/2025/0415
Expiry Date for Comment was Monday 05 May 2025 - there were 283 objections - we are waiting for Aberdeenshire Council to review the application and objections - the Statutory Determination Deadline was Sat 02 Aug 2025, but the decision has not yet been published - however the developer has been allowed to submit an updated noise report...
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Pre application completed. Waiting for main application to be submitted on Energy Consents Unit.​​
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Useful information
Public Meeting #2 for Blackford Against BESS
We held a further well-attended public meeting on Tuesday 19th August from 7pm - 9pm Rothienorman Community Bowling Club, Forgue Road, Rothienorman, AB51 8UE; this focussed on a review of the documents submitted to the ECU by the developer for the 500MW site. The presentation slides are available HERE
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Public Meeting #1 for Blackford Against BESS
We held a well-attended public meeting on Wednesday April 23rd from 7pm - 9pm Rothienorman Community Bowling Club, Forgue Road, Rothienorman, AB51 8UE; so that local residents and interested parties could understand the scale of the current and proposed developments and the potential impacts to the local community and environment. The presentation slides are available HERE
The Press & Journal wrote an article covering the meeting - see a copy from 29th April HERE
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Incident Report from Scottish Fire & Rescue Service
Report available from SFRS on the fire at the Overhill BESS site (Site 1) on 21st February 2025 - it states "A 9 ton lithium-ion phosphate battery <was> on fire. Had been damaged in transit and was not installed." CLICK HERE
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Presentation delivered at FRMCC meeting 25th March 2025
Dr Frank Richards has done some modelling of the potential smoke, fire and water run off if there was an incident at the proposed 500MW Blackford Energy Park - this was delivered to the Fyvie, Rothienorman & Monquhitter Community Council meeting on 25th March 2025. It shows that lethal fumes from a fire would reach Rothienorman village within 2 minutes, and that the water run off from fire fighting will contaminate the Black Burn which also runs directly into the village - download a copy of the presentation HERE​
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Map of Current and Proposed BESS Sites
Map of overall site showing the 6 BESS proposals:
Aberdeenshire Council have created a map to supposedly get all energy developments in planning up on their website. You can tick all relevant boxes and get a result. If you focus in on the Blackford site you will be disappointed to see that it only shows 3 of the current 6 BESS sites proposed. If the council can't even include everything, how anyone can ensure that the decisions being made give the correct end picture and our beautiful countryside isn't turned into an industrial mess. We need to ensure that everyone is aware of all of the BESS proposals.
