Notice is hereby given that ILI (Borders PSH) Ltd, (“the Company”) with company registration number SC581726, having its registered office at The Shires, 33 Bothwell Road, Hamilton, ML3 0AS has applied to the Scottish Ministers for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to construct and operate a pumped storage hydro scheme at approximately 4.4 km to the south of the village of Portsonachan and 9 km northwest of Inveraray in Argyll and Bute (Central Grid Reference NN 03615 17578). The installed generation capacity remains as described in the s36 application as “up to 1500 MW”, but in order to achieve the above the Applicant has had to reduce that output to a fixed capacity of 900 MW, in line with the grid connection agreement. The proposed development is subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and an EIA Report has been produced.

The Company has also requested a direction under section 57(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 that planning permission for the development be deemed to be granted.

The Company has now submitted additional information to Scottish Ministers, which includes information relating to changes to the outcomes of the EIAR as a result of a reduction in the size of the scheme. Embankments 1 & 2, and the Headpond Inlet / Outlet have been relocated and realigned, the Borrow Pit and Spillway have been relocated to align with the re-designed Headpond. In addition, associated changes to Access Tracks and locations of Compounds have been relocated to align with the changes to the Headpond. An Outline Peat Landslide Hazard Risk Assessment and Outline Peatland Restoration Plan are also included within the Further Environmental Information (FEI) report, in addition to an updated Framework Construction Traffic Management Plan, updated Outline Peat Management Plan, updated Outline Landscape and Ecological Management Plan figures and revised Visualisations for Viewpoint 4.

Copies of the additional information, the application and the EIA Report (‘the information’) are available for public inspection in person, free of charge, during normal office hours at:

The information can also be viewed on the application website at https://www.balliemeanochpsh.co.uk or at www.energyconsents.scot under application reference ECU00003444.

Copies of the information may be obtained from Balliemeanoch PSH Project Team on behalf of the Company (email: pumpedstorage@aecom.com) at a charge of £10 on USB storage device.

All previous representations received by Scottish Ministers in relation to the application remain valid.

Any new representations on the application may be submitted by email to the Scottish Government via representations@gov.scot; or by post to the Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU, identifying the proposal and specifying the grounds for representation.

Written or emailed representations should be dated, clearly stating the name (in block capitals) and full postal address of those making representations. Emailed representations should also include the full return email address of those making representations. Only representations sent by email to representations@gov.scot will receive acknowledgement.

All representations should be received not later than Monday 28th July 2025 although Ministers may consider representations received after this date.

Any subsequent additional information which is submitted by the developer will be subject to further public notice in this manner, and representations to such information will be accepted as per this notice.

Where Scottish Ministers are required to, or decide to exercise their discretion to do so, they can cause a public inquiry to be held.

Following examination of the environmental information and all views and representations received, Scottish Ministers will determine this application for consent in one of two ways:

· Consent the proposal, with or without conditions attached; or

· Reject the proposal

General Data Protection Regulations

The Scottish Government processes representations under the Electricity Act 1989. To support transparency in decision making, the Scottish Government publishes online at www.energyconsents.scot.

A privacy notice is published on the Help page at www.energyconsents.scot. This explains how the Scottish Government processes your personal information. If you have any concerns about the processing of your personal information by the Scottish Government, please email EconsentsAdmin@gov.scot or write to Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU.