'Minor' visual impact from battery storage plans

The energy storage project would be built near Eccles in the Borders

A council is being advised not to object to plans for a battery energy storage development in the Borders.

A report to the local authority described the visual and landscape impact of the scheme near Eccles as "minor".

The final say on the project will lie with the Scottish government but Scottish Borders Council (SBC) is being consulted.

A report to its planning committee has recommended the authority does not oppose the plans which could help meet national green energy targets.

The development would be built near the local substation

Residents in the area have previously raised concerns about a "gold rush" of bids to build near a substation in the area.

They have voiced fears it could see the "mass replacement of agricultural land with industrial plant".

However, a report to SBC said the latest plans to the west of the substation would "not result in unacceptable adverse impacts" subject to suitable landscaping.

It said that while the development would result in the loss of agricultural land, it would comply with the "prevailing policies" of the local development plan.