Flood and Surface Water Expertise Helps Deliver 24MW BESS Planning Consent in Sensitive Green Belt Site
Aegaea is pleased to have supported the successful planning approval of a 24MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Parkhouse Road, Barrhead. The project received unanimous backing from Glasgow City Council’s Planning Committee following a positive discussion highlighting the development as “well designed”, “quality” and reflective of the Council’s commitment to achieving Net Zero. Our role focused on managing flood risk and surface water drainage in what was a sensitive and technically challenging location.
Project Overview
The site sits within the Green Belt and forms part of the setting of the Dams to Darnley Country Park. It is also located adjacent to land with a known susceptibility to flooding, including the Aurs Burn watercourse.
As a result, flood risk and drainage were key issues throughout the determination process. It was essential to provide clear evidence that the development would remain safe from flooding and would not increase flood risk elsewhere.
Aegaea’s Approach
Aegaea was appointed to deliver a full flood risk and drainage strategy for the site. This included:
- Hydraulic modelling of the Aurs Burn to assess site-specific fluvial flood risk
- A Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) aligned with SEPA guidance and Glasgow City Council policy
- A surface water drainage strategy based on the drainage hierarchy and SuDS principles
Our detailed modelling demonstrated that the site could accommodate the development safely, with no adverse impacts on flood risk to third parties. The proposed drainage measures ensured compliance with National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) and supported the wider environmental objectives of the scheme.
Thanks to our extensive experience working within the Glasgow City Council area, we were able to identify and comply with Glasgow’s specific flood risk policies for Strategic Infrastructure. We also ensured appropriate consultation with Scottish Water regarding exclusion zones and easements related to their below-ground high-pressure supply assets.
Aegaea’s ongoing involvement in Essential Infrastructure projects, along with our expertise in low-carbon and zero-emission technologies, gave us a significant advantage in progressing this development.
The Outcome ✅
Planning permission was granted (subject to a Section 75 Agreement) at the June 2025 Planning Committee meeting. The outcome is particularly significant given the green belt location, flood sensitivity, and local environmental designations.
Aegaea’s input played a vital role in helping to resolve flood and drainage concerns, providing the confidence needed by consultees and decision-makers to support the scheme.
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