Cockenzie BESS

Context 

Battery Energy Storage Schemes (BESS) are essential to speeding up the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy. BESS will play an increasingly pivotal role to responding to electricity demands. BESS are devices that enable clean energy from renewables, such as solar and wind, excess to requirements to be stored and then released when the power is needed most, rather than being lost.  

The National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) in Scotland offers strong support for BESS developments, as part of addressing the climate crisis, being given significant weight by Scottish Ministers in their determinations of the sites. 

Project Overview  

The site formed part of the former coal fired Cockenzie Power Station, owned by East Lothian Council and is allocated within the Local Development Plan for industrial or energy-related uses. The site will install BESS, transformers, substation and associated development on land south-west of East Lothian with a combined scheme total of 342 MW of BESS. The application was originally submitted in January 2024 for the overall scheme.  

There was a need to ‘split’ the site into Cockenzie A and B due to the fact that the site had two separate grid connection offers; therefore ‘Cockenzie A’ was submitted in November 2024 to make the original application as 240MW and a new application for ‘Cockenzie B’ for the remaining 102MW.  

The applications are ‘national’ developments, with the applications submitted to and to be determined by the Scottish Ministers. Consent was granted by the Scottish Ministers on 23 July 2025.   

The Challenge

Objections were raised by the Local Planning Authority (LPA), East Lothian Council, regarding issues such as transport and landscape. Community members also objected to the scheme, forming a campaign group, and a procedural challenge was made concerning whether the application should be ‘split’. 

The Solution

To address and overcome East Lothian Council’s concerns, we provided additional supporting information and proposed planning conditions that overcame the objection. Pegasus coordinated and undertook community consultation in advance of submitting the applications and continued dialogue during the determination with several stakeholders.  

We attended a community council meeting with the developer to address safety concerns and objections to the location of the development. On splitting the application, this was a significant procedural challenge where Pegasus were at the forefront of demonstrating to the Scottish Ministers and East Lothian Council about how this can be done appropriately, with procedural concerns being addressed in the amended application in November 2024. 

Testimonials 

Christopher Allen, of Energy Hub Developments, commented, “We are extremely impressed by the dedication and expertise demonstrated by Pegasus Group throughout every stage of the Cockenzie and Branxton Battery Energy Storage Scheme projects. Their guidance was invaluable in navigating the complex planning landscape and engaging stakeholders, resulting in a successful outcome that will help drive the transition to a more sustainable energy future. We are delighted our ambitions may became a reality.” 

Jamie Scott, Director of Planning at Pegasus Group commented; “We are pleased to have led on the assessment and consenting process on behalf of our clients for their Cockenzie battery energy storage schemes in East Lothian, Scotland. We are delighted that the Scottish Ministers have granted consent Section 36 under the Electricity Act 1989 and deemed planning permission. This decision recognises that this scheme, as national development, will contribute towards UK and Scottish ambitions to increase our energy storage capacity, decarbonise our energy supply and increase our resilience in our electricity networks.”