These projects are deeply unpopular with local people and will do huge damage

By Bill Heaney

The Scottish Conservatives have accused the Labour and SNP governments of showing “contempt” to rural communities by allowing giant energy infrastructure projects to blight the landscape, in spite of fierce local opposition. 

John Lamont, MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, led a debate at Westminster today on the proliferation of wind farms, solar farms, battery energy storage units and mega-pylons, which he says is doing huge damage to his constituency and others up and down Scotland. 

Areas of West Dunbartonshire which could be damaged by the battery storage blight include the Old Kilpatrick Hills, the hills above Bonhill and the new industrial site currently under construction on the banks of the Clyde between Dumbuck and Bowling, pictured above.

The Scottish Conservatives believe that local communities should have a veto on whether major developments get the green light but the UK Labour Government’s plan to remove this right was backed at Holyrood earlier this month by every other party, including Reform. 

John Lamont and Harriet Cross MP were supported from the gallery by party colleagues Douglas Ross MSP and Highlands councillor Helen Crawford, all of whom have led the battle to give communities in North-East and North Scotland a voice on rapidly expanding energy infrastructure. 

Scottish Conservative MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk John Lamont said: “We all understand the need for a modern, resilient electricity network – but there must be a balance. 

“Rural Scotland is being inundated by plans for new energy infrastructure: wind farms, solar farms, battery energy storage units and mega-pylons. 

“Community consent and local democracy are vital, but local residents are being completely ignored when they say no to this damaging proliferation. 

“The Labour and SNP governments are treating them with contempt by allowing this to happen, yet in the Scottish Parliament only the Scottish Conservatives stood up for rural communities, while every other party, including Reform, nodded through this power grab. 

“In my constituency, Scottish Power Energy Networks plan a new electricity sub-station linking giant mega-pylons. The total site will cover the equivalent of around 40 football pitches. 

“This project is deeply unpopular with local people and will do huge damage. The pylons will impact homeowners’ quality of life, scar our countryside, damage tourism, leave businesses out of pocket and damage our environment and natural habitats. 

“Rural Scotland is expected to take a disproportionate burden in the transition to net zero, while the SNP Government inexplicably opposes nuclear energy, and both they and Labour want to destroy the North Sea oil and gas sector. 

“Some of the most beautiful parts of our great country are at risk of permanent destruction and Scotland’s two failing governments are allowing it to happen.”

Consenting of Electricity Infrastructure is devolved. The Scottish Government determines applications to construct electricity infrastructure – both generating stations over 50MW and network projects. While Scottish ministers are responsible for taking decisions under the Electricity Act 1989, the UK Parliament has responsibility for the legislative framework, as the powers to legislate for “generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity” are reserved. 

Public inquiries are a vital instrument that allow communities to oppose electricity infrastructure. At present, if the relevant planning authority objects to an application and the application is not withdrawn, then Scottish ministers must cause a public inquiry to be held. In a public inquiry session, each witness must give its evidence in advance, with each witness being cross-examined by the opposing party. Legal representation is not essential but is common. 

UK Labour Government proposals would remove the automatic right to a public inquiry. The UK Government is proposing that when a planning authority objects, the Scottish ministers must instead appoint a person to make an examination into that application. That person may propose a public inquiry, or they may specify a site inspection, further written submissions, hearing sessions, or a combination of these. This will reduce the total number of public inquiries. 

Reform joined Labour and the SNP in voting for Keir Starmer’s proposals to take communities’ voices away from approving new energy infrastructure. Reform’s only MSP voted for Labour’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill Legislative Consent Memorandum, supported by the SNP Government, that will take away local communities’ automatic right to a local public inquiry if they object to new electricity infrastructure. Every single party voted for the LCM except the Scottish Conservatives who oppose these reforms. (Official report, 9 October 2025, link).