THE public are being invited to have their say at a consultation event for a proposed battery energy storage site (BESS) near Ayr Hospital.

Initial proposals from Apatura Ltd earlier this year requested an opinion from South Ayrshire Council on the need for an environmental impact assessment to go alongside the plans.

The site would be located on land at Clonmacate Farm, east of the hospital site, just off the A713.

The system will store up to 200MW of energy, alongside associated infrastructure including a substation, security fencing, CCTV, security lighting and landscaping.

The scheme would connect to the Ayr substation, located approximately 2.9km northwest of the proposed site.

The total site would be around five hectares in size, and would be "temporary for around 40 years". 

Following this, the development would be decommissioned and the land returned to its original state.

(Image: Apatura Ltd) The proposed development would comprise of a number of containerised units to house the BESS and associated ancillary infrastructure.

Each container will have the appearance of a standard metal shipping container.

The compound would be enclosed by a 2.4m high perimeter fence, with infra-red CCTV cameras.

On fire safety, Apatura said: "Safety is our top priority, and we understand that fire safety is a key concern for the community.

"Our sites are equipped with advanced fire detection, suppression, and 24/7 monitoring systems of the highest standard.

"We work closely with local authorities to uphold strict safety practices, providing a secure and reliable facility that supports both community and environmental safety."

The construction process would take between 12 and 18 months, and additional vegetation would be planted around the site to minimise its visual impact.

Apatura says it believes that the development would not have any significant effects on the environment, and argue that an EIA would not be required.

As part of the pre-application process, two public consultation events will be held in the surrounding area. 

The first will take place on Tuesday, November 12 from 4pm to 7.30pm at Coylton Activity Centre.

Locals are encouraged to head along, view the plans and have their say to help inform future proposals.