A PROPOSED gas-fired electricity generating facility near Fishcross is likely to be refused by councillors this week.

Clackmannanshire Council's Planning Committee is set to determine the application, made by Greenock-based company Fishcross Generation Ltd, at its virtual meeting on Thursday, May 20.

Documents to be tabled on the day recommend that the application is refused as it does not comply with a number of policies set out in the council's Local Development Plan (LDP).

Council papers said: "Our assessment of the application is that it would not accord with the provisions of the Local Development Plan mainly related to its industrial nature and design and the adverse impacts it would have on the established amenity and landscape character of this countryside location."

The proposal – classed as a "major development" – is for an electricity generating station with a capacity that exceeds 20 megawatts.

A report to go in front of the committee explained that the facility would be used as a "peaking plant", generating electricity only when there is peak demand.

Under the proposals, power would be generated by five gas turbines, fuelled by natural gas supplied by the gas network.

The turbines would be enclosed within a 25m by 25m building, measuring nearly 5m in height.

Each turbine would also come with a vertical exhaust stack, reaching a height of around 14.5m above ground level, as well as five ventilation towers.

The site, proposed on land south of Hennings Wood near Fishcross, would also contain a number of ancillary buildings and structures to facilitate power generation and work.

Developers behind the plans are seeking to support low-carbon and renewable energy and highlighted a number of Scottish Government policies in aid of their application.

However, council papers add: "The overarching need to decarbonise the energy sector to achieve the targets for the reduction in green house gas emissions; the support for energy-storage technology which can replace fossil fuel sources; and future fossil fuel based generation should be subject to emission reduction infrastructure.

"We also approached National Grid to seek more information to help clarify the need for such plants but we have not received a response.

"It is concluded that, on balance, the above policies or guidance do not provide a significant level of support for the development or its locational justification."

Two objections against the development have been received by the council, on behalf of the Scottish Wildlife Trust and its Clackmannanshire group, as well as from the owner of The Woods Caravan and Lodge Park – located north of the site.