Ambitious proposals have been lodged for a large renewable energy development which could eventually power a Strathearn primary school and allow a prominent local employer to boost its green credentials.
Blackford Farms Ltd has applied to Perth and Kinross Council for permission to construct a 7MW solar farm on land 600 metres north-west of Bardrill Farm on the outskirts of the village.
The wide-ranging proposal includes scope for ground-mounted solar arrays, security fencing, CCTV columns, substations, switchrooms, transformers, battery storage systems, a solar car port, electric vehicle (EV) charging points, cabling and other associated work.
The approximately 9.6 hectare site is south-east of the Highland Spring facility on the northern side of the A9 and those behind the potential future project have said the bottled water firm and Blackford Primary School are in line to benefit from the plans.
A planning statement submitted by Keppie Design describes the wider context for the mooted development as being “undoubtedly that of climate change and national ambitions to transition to a low carbon, low energy consumption economy.”
Elsewhere, it states: “The site boundary extends via a narrow corridor north and under the A9, before encompassing an area of the Highland Spring facility, associated car park and a link to Blackford Primary School.
“The purpose of this narrow track and small pockets of development is to allow for underground cable routing, provision of EV charging apparatus and power supply to Blackford Primary School; elements which are ancillary to the main solar-array proposal.”
The document continues: “The site is not within a Conservation Area, does not contain any listed assets, Scheduled Monuments or World Heritage sites. Neither is the site within immediate proximity of any such sites or assets.
“It is acknowledged that there are listed assets approximately one-kilometre from the site, and these have been taken into consideration in the design and assessment of the development.
“The site is to the south of an area known to be at risk of flooding as shown on SEPA flood maps. However, the proposals are in an elevated position and are of a nature that is not at risk from flooding or increasing flooding elsewhere...”
It adds: “It is intended that the array will abut Bardrill Road, with access taken via an existing farm access track which will be retained in its current form.
“The array will be arranged in three areas separated by access track and perimeter security fencing enclosing the entire array.
“Two substation units will be located in the centre of the array from which a network of shallow trenches will route direct wire cable connections to the north, under the A9, and connecting into further substation units at the Highland Spring facility.
“All cable connection trenches will be back-filled and will become imperceptible upon completion.
The document goes on to reveal that a “community learning hub” would be created north of the A9 within the Highland Spring car park which would include a substation and a double solar car port housing double 150kW rapid EV charging points “for the local community to use on a 24/7 basis”.
It goes on: “The development will provide the nearby Highland Spring site around 30 per cent of its annual electricity requirements from renewable sources and support further decarbonisation of operations on site.
“Installation of up to 16 forklift EV chargers will facilitate the replacement of the remaining gas forklift trucks with electric alternatives and the installation of an addition 10 EV charging points will be available for employees and visitors to use. A structure to house the forklift charging will be subject to a future planning application.”
In relation to the village’s school, Keppie Design states: “The development will have a positive social impact on the local community by providing Blackford Primary School with all their electricity free of charge from renewable sources.
“The school currently uses kerosene for heating and the provision of free electricity could support and accelerate the switch away from fossil fuels and enable further carbon reduction on site.
“The income generated through electricity sold to Highland Spring will support Blackford Farms Ltd to decarbonise agricultural vehicles and estate properties through investment in alternative low carbon technologies.
“The development is intended to be a demonstrator site in Scotland with the community learning hub being available to communicate the benefits of renewable electricity generation and how integrated energy systems can significantly reduce carbon emissions within businesses while sharing and retaining benefits within the local community.”
The supporting document states that current solar panels can have a lifespan of between 25 to 30 years and permission is being sought to allow for the maximum period of use.
It explains: “Should the scheme be retired at any point, the site is capable of being returned to its former use with no lasting harm or structures remaining.”
In collaboration with Blackford Community Council, a voluntary online consultation event for the proposals was held on the last day of March.
Keppie Design said of the virtual event: “Feedback received during the presentation was generally supportive of the principle of the solar development, the intention to provide clean energy to Blackford Primary School and the inclusion of EV charging for use by the local community.”
The application will be decided in due course.
