Inverness Caley Thistle appeals against battery park decision

Inverness Caledonian Thistle has appealed to the Scottish government against Highland Council's decision to refuse the club planning permission for a battery farm.

The renewable energy facility has been proposed for a site near the Fairways Business Park in Inverness.

It would store excess energy generated by wind farms and release it back to the grid at periods of high demand.

The League 1 football club has previously said some of the income raised from the project would go towards its community outreach programme.

The Scottish government will appoint an official, called a reporter, to consider Caley Thistle's appeal. The process can take several months.

Highland Council's decision could be upheld or potentially overturned.

In a small number of cases, government ministers make the decision following the reporter's submissions and recommendations.

The club was initially granted planning permission for the battery farm in February, but the local authority later decided to review the decision.

In March, councillors voted 30 to 23 against the project.

Concerns were raised by some local residents over noise pollution and loss of green space.

Caley Thistle were relegated from the Championship last month. Since then challenges around the club's finances have emerged.

Plans to move the club's training base 136 miles south to Fife were scrapped after an outcry, and the board warned last month that going into administration may be the only option if it cannot attract new investment or owners.