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Planning Application

Glen Earrach Energy Planning Application

Since April 2024, Glen Earrach Energy has prioritised early and meaningful engagement with the local community. Our project team launched early engagement immediately after submission of our request for a Scoping Opinion, and have since completed four separate rounds of consultation with communities around the full Loch Ness area, well before statutory pre-application requirements began.  

This feedback has directly informed the final design of the project, resulting in major design changes to reduce visual impact, reduce transport on the A82, protect our natural landscape and views of residents, and minimise above-ground infrastructure.

We’ve listened carefully to local views, and we’ll keep doing so.

Following these design improvements, Glen Earrach Energy has now submitted a Section 36 application for planning permission to the Scottish Government.

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If approved, our project will offer more storage and greater community benefits than any other proposed project on Loch Ness.

The project is expected to support around 1,000 jobs during construction, create long-term high-quality employment, and inject significant local and regional supply chain value into the Highlands economy.

Having reached this key milestone, we look forward to working with the local community, the Scottish Government and The Highland Council on the next phase of the project’s journey

You can view our plans below.

Cover and Contents

Figure 1.1 - Site Location

Figure 2.1 - Environmental Constraints

Figure 2.2 - Utilities

Figure 2.3 - Above Ground Infrastructure

Figure 2.4 - Below Ground Infrastructure

Figure 2.5 - Site Design - Pre-Construction Phase Plan

Figure 2.6 - Site Design - Construction Phase Plan

Figure 2.7 - Site Design - Operational Phase Plan

Figure 2.8 - Development Cross Section

Figure 2.9 - Headpond Arrangement Plan

Figure 2.10 - Headpond Cross Section

Figure 2.11 - Headpond Embankments Typical Detail

Figure 2.12 - Headpond Borrow Pit Plan and Section

Figure 2.13 - Upper Control Works Plan

Figure 2.14 - Upper Control Works Section

Figure 2.15 - Lower Control Works - 3D Visualisation

Figure 2.16 - Lower Control Works Plan

Figure 2.17 - Lower Control Works Section

Figure 2.18 - Dry Tunnel Plan and Section

Figure 2.19 - Spillway Section

Figure 2.20 - Valve Cavern Access Tunnel Plan and Section

Figure 2.21 - Tunnel Portal Plan and Section

Figure 2.22 - Waterways Plan and Section

Figure 2.23 - Power Cavern Plan

Figure 2.24 - Power Cavern Section

Figure 2.25 - Valve Cavern Plan and Section

Figure 2.26 - Indicative Construction Compound Plan

Figure 2.27 - GIS Switchyard Plan

Figure 2.28 - Temporary Workers Accommodation Plan

Figure 2.29 - Temporary Workers Accommodation Section

Figure 2.30 - Temporary Core Path Diversion

Figure 2.31 - Excavated Access Track Detail

Figure 2.32 - Floating Access Track Detail

Figure 2.33 - Watercourse Crossing Detail

Figure 3.1 - Design Evolution Design I Pre-Feasibility

Figure 3.2 - Design Evolution Design II Feasibility

Figure 3.3 - Design Evolution Design III Scoping

Figure 3.4 - Design Evolution Design IV Post Scoping Option A

Figure 3.5 - Design Evolution Design V Post-Public Consultation

Figure 3.6 - Design Evolution Design V Design Freeze

Figure 6.1 - Topography

Figure 6.2A - Zone of Theoretical Visibility - Headpond and Embankments

Figure 6.2B - Zone of Theoretical Visibility - Lower Control Works

Figure 6.2C - Zone of Theoretical Visibility - Secondary Bund

Figure 6.2D - Zone of Theoretical Visibility - Construction and Permanent Compounds

Figure 6.2E - Zone of Theoretical Visibility - Construction Tracks

Figure 6.2F - Zone of Theoretical Visibility - Permanent Tracks

Figure 6.2G - Zone of Theoretical Visibility - Operational Elements

Figure 6.3 - Special Landscape Areas and Operation Zone of Theoretrical Visibility

Figure 6.4 - Landscape Designations and Operation Zone of Theoretrical Visibility

Figure 6.5 - Landscape Character Types and Operational Zone of Theoretical Visibility

Figure 6.6 - Local Walking & Recreational Routes, Core Paths and Operational ZTV

Figure 6.7A - Viewpoints and Operational Zone of Theoretical Visibility

Figure 6.7B - Viewpoints and Operational Zone of Theoretical Visibility

Figure 6.8 - Cumulative Schemes (Scenario 1) and Operational Zone of Theoretical Visibility

Figure 6.9 - Cumulative Schemes (Scenario 2) and Operational Zone of Theoretical Visibility

Figure 7.1 - Northern Highlands Natural Heritage Zone

Figure 7.2 - European Sites Special Areas of Conservation

Figure 7.3 - Sites of Special Scientific Interest,Ancient Woodland,Invertebrate

Figure 7.4 - Terrestrial Ecology Survey Areas and Camera Trap Locations

Figure 7.5 - Habitats

Figure 7.6 - National Vegetation Classification

Figure 7.7 - Peatland

Figure 7.8 - Notable Plants and Habitat Features

Figure 7.9 - Potential Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems

Figure 7.11 - Water Vole Survey Results and Incidental Records

Figure 7.12 - Pine Marten, Badger Red Squirrel Survey Results and Incidental Record

Figure 7.13 - Incidental Records of Other Important and Notable Species

Figure 8.1 - Northern Highlands Natural Heritage Zone (NHZ 7)

Figure 8.2 - Ornithology Field Survey Areas

Figure 8.3 - Vantage Point Viewsheds

Figure 8.4 - Statutory Designated Sites for Ornithology

Figure 8.5 - Moorland Breeding Bird Survey Territories - Waders, Waterbirds and Grouse

Figure 8.6 - Moorland Breeding Bird Survey Territories - Passerines

Figure 8.7 - Breeding Season VP Flight Lines - Waders, Waterbirds and Grouse

Figure 8.8 - Breeding Season VP Flight Lines - Raptors

Figure 8.9 - Non-Breeding Season VP Flight Lines

Figure 8.10 - Breeding Diver and Grebe Survey Waterbodies

Figure 10.1 - Surface Water Receptors

Figure 10.2 - Groundwater Receptors

Figure 10.3 - Private Water Supplies

Figure 10.4 - Watercourse Crossings

Figure 11.1 - Site Waterbodies

Figure 11.2 - Loch Ness Waterbodies and Hydro Schemes

Figure 12.1 - Heritage Assets within the Site and the 1 km Study Area

Figure 12.2 - Designated Heritage assets within the 3 km Study Area

Figure 12.3 - Heritage Assets within Site and 3km Study Area ZTV

Figure 13.1 - Traffic and Movement Study Area

Figure 13.2 - Traffic Survey Locations 2024

Figure 13.3 - Injury Accident Locations 2019-2023

Figure 13.4 - Construction Traffic Programme Vehicle Movements Graph

Figure 14.1 - Sensitive Receptors Considered as Part of the Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment

Figure 14.2 - Long and Short Term Sound Monitoring Locations

Figure 14.3 - Road Traffic Noise Study Links

Figure 15.1 - Topography

Figure 15.2 - Bedrock Geology

Figure 15.3 - Superficial Geology

Figure 15.4 - Peat Probe Survey Results

Figure 15.5 - Peat Depth Interpolation Plan

Figure 16.1 - Socio-economic, Recreation and Tourism Receptors

Figure 16.2 - Outline Access Management Plan Recreational Routes and Paths

Figure 18.1 - Loch Ness Woodland Proposed Felling Requirements

Figure 18.2 - Overall Track Felling Requirements Sheets 1-11

Figure 18.3 - Mitigation Plan

Cover and Contents

Appendix 2.1 – Dochfour Weir Upgrade Description

Appendix 2.2 – Letter from Scottish Canals

Appendix 3.1 – oCEMP

Appendix 4.1 – Scoping Opinion

Appendix 4.2 – Consultation Tracker

Appendix 4.3 – Gate Check Report

Appendix 6.1 – Landscape and Visual Methodology

Appendix 6.2 – Landscape Assessment

Appendix 6.3 – Visual Assessment

Appendix 6.4 – Landscape and Ecology Management Plan

Appendix 7.1 – EcIA Method

Appendix 7.2 – Statement to Inform HRA

Appendix 7.3 – Habitats

Appendix 7.4 – Mammals

Appendix 7.5 – Biodiversity Net Gain

Appendix 7.6 – Outline Peatland Restoration Plan

Appendix 8.1 – Ornithology

Appendix 9.1 – Aquatic Ecology Baseline Report

Appendix 10.1 – WFD Assessment

Appendix 10.2 – PWS Assessment

Appendix 10.3 – Geomorphic Baseline and Watercourse Crossings

Appendix 10.4 – Outline Water Management Plan

Appendix 10.5 – Loch nam Breac Dearga Chemistry

Appendix 10.6 – Stratification Literature Review

Appendix 11.1 – Water Resources

Appendix 11.2 – Flood Risk Assessment

Appendix 12.1 – Glen Earrach Gazetteers

Appendix 12.2 – Site Photographs

Appendix 13.1 – Transport Assessment for Print

Appendix 13.2 – Framework CTMP

Appendix 14.1 – Acoustic Terminology

Appendix 14.2 – Baseline Monitoring

Appendix 14.3 – Acoustic Model Input

Appendix 15.1 – Material Management Appraisal

Appendix 15.2 – Outline Peat Management Plan

Appendix 15.3 – Preliminary Peat Landslide Hazard and Risk Assessment

Appendix 16.1 – Outline Access Management Plan

Appendix 16.2 – Recreation and Tourism Features

Appendix 17.1 – Climate Change Risk Assessment

Appendix 17.2 – In-combination CC Impact Assessment Clean

Appendix 18.1 – Woodland Report LN

Appendix 18.2 – Woodland Report GUW

Appendix 19.1 – Mitigation Register

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