CAR/L/5007496 - Balgonie Estates Limited: Newton Don Hydro – CAR Application

Closed 5 Sep 2024

Opened 21 Jun 2024

Overview

It is part of SEPA's remit to protect the water environment. We regulate through authorisations that limit the scope and scale of the activity.

If you have an interest in this application, please tell us by completing the following questions and submitting them to us by 5 September 2024. 

Application details

We received an application from Balgonie Estates Limited, Newton Don Hydro, on 14 March 2024 for a new authorisation to carry out impoundment and abstraction of water for hydroelectric power generation (CAR/L/5007496).

The application form provided by the applicant is available below:

The applicant has placed adverts in the national and local press. You have until 5 September 2024 to submit your comments.

Why your views matter

Why are we consulting?

This is your opportunity to let us know about any risks you believe the activity(ies) will have on:

  • The water environment, including potential impacts to species and habitats. 
  • The interests of other users of the water environment, resulting from an aspect of the proposed activity(ies) that we regulate.

How we use your feedback

As Scotland’s principal environmental regulator, our purpose is to protect and improve Scotland’s environment in ways that, as far as possible, also contribute to improving health and well-being and achieving sustainable economic growth. Our Corporate Plan 2024-2027 sets our strategic ambition and priorities. Our Annual Operating Plans set out how we will implement our priorities every year.

In delivering these priorities we engage with those who have an interest in and/or are affected by our regulations and duties. One way we engage is through formal consultations. This is your opportunity to tell us what you think about our proposals. The feedback we receive helps us to understand what matters most to people and how we can deliver our duties efficiently and effectively.

After the consultation closes, we’ll consider the information we receive before publishing a digest of responses through the We asked, You said, We did section of our consultation website. This will close the consultation process by explaining how we have considered and, where appropriate, acted upon what we heard.

How we will manage responses

At the end of the consultation, we will publish all comments. You can tell us within the consultation if you do not want your comment published. If this is the case, we will publish a note saying that we received a response but have not made it publicly available.

We will write to everyone who responded to the consultation and provided contact details, outlining the feedback received, how it has been taken into account and our proposed decision. If you disagree with our decision, you will be given the opportunity to request that Scottish Ministers ‘call-in’ the application for their determination.

Scottish Minister may agree to call-in an application if: 

  • the representation provides clear reason for the objection, supported by evidence;
  • the objection relates to material considerations raised during determination of the application.

The full criteria for Ministerial consideration are listed on gov.scot.

The final decision will be published on this website along with the authorisation, if granted.

What happens next

Submissions have been made by email, if you wish to view these responses please email registry@sepa.org.uk and request a copy. Please refer to reference ‘CAR/L/5007496 – Balgonie Estates Limited: Newton Don Hydro – CAR Application’ when emailing.

Audiences

  • Agriculture
  • Mining
  • Distilling
  • Hydropower
  • Local Authorities
  • Responsible Authorities
  • Fisheries
  • Industry
  • Landowners/ managers
  • Forestry
  • National Parks
  • Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC)
  • Public
  • Developers
  • Water

Interests

  • Water Regulation
  • Regulated activities
  • Better regulation
  • Permit application
  • Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations