Ministers give green light to Cockenzie electricity substation

Scottish Ministers have granted planning permission in principle for an onshore substation, electricity cables and associated infrastructure on part of the former Cockenzie Power Station site.A planning application for the development, submitted by Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm, was called in by Ministers for determination.The substation and infrastructure is intended to be used for exporting electricity from the proposed Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm, around 15km off the Angus coast in the North Sea.Recognising the need to grow the employment base of the region, East Lothian Council has proactively set out to acquire sites of strategic importance. The former Cockenzie Power Station site was acquired by the council last year to support its ambitions for promoting economic growth in the local area, creating employment opportunities and is a key component of the East Lothian Economic Development Strategy.The council has similarly focused significant effort into securing the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal to secure investment and build sustainable economic growth for the benefit of East Lothian and the wider region. There are also ambitions to create a vibrant new community for the 21st century and beyond at the former Blindwells site.