Agenda and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be found here. 

Please note that if any changes are made to this minute at the point of approval, these will be outlined in the subsequent minute and this document will not be retrospectively altered.

The Forum had before it the procedure note and guidance for members on the operation of Forum meetings.

The Forum resolved:-

to note the procedure note and guidance for members.

The Forum had before it the minute of the previous meeting of 3 November 2022, for approval.

The Forum resolved:-

to approve the minute as a correct record.

Planning Officer:  Lucy Greene

The Forum had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, on a submission of a Proposal of Application by Aberdeen Hydrogen Energy Ltd for the construction of Hydrogen Production and Re-fuelling facility, Solar Farm and connecting cable route at Hareness Road/ Ness Landfill Site to the west of the Coast Road, Aberdeen, planning reference number 221408.

The report advised that the proposal was for a solar farm generating 8NW on the former Ness landfill site, with hydrogen production and fuelling facility on the industrial zoned site on the corner of Hareness Road at the southern extremity of the red lined area. Between the two would be laid a connecting cable to carry electricity from the solar farm to the hydrogen plant. The solar farm would include: photovoltaic panels, electrical transformers, DC to AC inverters, switchgear, metering system and a small sub-station with connection point to a solar grid connection.

Early conceptual work indicated the solar panels as being located around the upper areas of the hill side, as these were flatter, with the gradient of the sides being less suitable. The solar farm would provide energy for hydrogen production, with any excess being provided to the grid. The hydrogen facility would include: three  vehicle hydrogen dispensers, one or more electrolyser – which splits water molecules (H2O) into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2), compressor(s), low pressure storage, station module with fuelling storage and local electrical substation. The hydrogen facility would also be connected to the grid for back up. It was indicated that the cable would be below ground and would carry 33Kv. The precise route for the cable was not yet established, however, it was indicated that it would be within the soft road verge where carried along Coast Road.

The report also noted that the Pre-application notice for this application was submitted on 23rd November 2022 and was agreed on 14 December 2022. The first public consultation event took place on 10th December 2022 at St Fittick’s Church. The event consisted of presentation boards with members of the applicant’s project team available to answer questions. Feedback forms were available for feedback to be either left at the event or sent later, including by email. A second event was held at St Fittick’s Church on 28th January 2023.

The Forum heard from Lucy Greene, Senior Planner, who addressed the Forum and provided details regarding the planning aspects of the application. 

Ms Greene provided details on the relevant planning policies noting that the following policies were relevant to the proposed application:-

NE1 – Green Space Network

NE2 – Green Belt

B1 – Business and Industry

D1 – Quality Placemaking by Design

D2 – Landscape

D4 – Historic Environment

I1 – Infrastructure Delivery and Planning Obligations

T2 – Managing the Transport Impact of Development

T3 – Sustainable and Active Travel

T5 – Noise

NE6 – Flooding, Drainage and Water Quality

NE8 – Natural Heritage

NE9 – Access and Informal Recreation

R2 – Degraded and Contaminated Land  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.