Storegga Pins Hopes on the Public For New Site in Inverness
The Highland Council has received a request to grant a lease and change the use of an area within common good property at the former landfill site at East Longman, Inverness.
Before reaching a decision, the Council must have regard to the views of Inverness residents via a consultation in terms of Section 104 Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.
If following the consultation, the Council wish to agree to the request, they must seek the consent of the Sheriff Court.
What is Being Proposed?
Storegga Hydrogen propose to develop a green hydrogen production facility at an area within the Property at the Landfill Site.
Using renewable energy sources, the Development would produce approximately 6,400 tonnes of electrolytic hydrogen annually, with production planned to play a vital role in the decarbonisation of a large industrial site within the Longman Industrial Estate.
Hydrogen would also be supplied to other users. The facility could reduce carbon emissions by 45,000 tonnes of CO2e per year – equivalent to removing 32,000 fossil fuelled cars from Scotland’s roads.
The Development would include hydrogen production plant, hydrogen storage, export and transportation facilities, together with associated access roads, cabling, pipes, connections, habitat management areas and construction compounds.
Subject to the project developing as planned, the lease would commence in April 2028, with civils works and plant installation expected to be completed by August 2030.
The initial lease period would be 20 years, with the option to extend the lease for a further two periods of 10 years, with a break option exercisable every 5th anniversary of commencement of the lease.
For the duration of the lease, the Inverness Common Good Fund would receive rental income representing market rates and achieving Best Value for the Fund.
Prior to commencement of the Lease, the Inverness Common Good Fund would also receive an annual Option to Lease Fee, from the date of execution of the Option to Lease, until commencement of the Lease.
What Land is Affected?
The proposed Development is located within the former Landfill Site which is common good Property and is situated between the foreshore of the Inner Moray Firth on the Northeast and the A9 trunk road near the A82 junction on the Southwest, Inverness.
The Landfill Site is no longer used for landfill, however parts of it continue to be restricted in terms of development and public access. This statutory restriction is to enable degradation and settlement to take place and facilitate environmental monitoring.
In 2022 the statutory restriction was removed in part, including over the proposed Development which is the subject of this consultation.
