Scottish Ministers approve extension of Monadhliath wind farm
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Highland councillors are being notified of the latest wind farm to be approved in the Monadhliath mountains.
Renewable energy company BayWa r.e. received planning consent in December, last year, from the Scottish Government for Corriegarth 2 Wind Farm near Gorthleck and south-east of Foyers.
Members of the council’s south planning applications committee meeting at council headquarters in Inverness next Wednesday (February 7) are being informed of the go-ahead.
The development comprising 14 wind turbines with a maximum blade tip height of 149.9 metres will be an extension to the operational Corriegarth Wind Farm owned by Greencoat UK Wind. The combined sites cover 1,694 hectares.
It states within the 54 page Energy Consents Unit report: “The Scottish Ministers are satisfied that the matters raised in the representations and consultation responses have been appropriately assessed and taken into account in the determination of the proposed development...
“Scottish Ministers are satisfied that the company has done what it reasonably can to mitigate any effect which the proposals would have on the natural beauty of the countryside or any such flora, fauna, features, sites, buildings or objects.”
The Cairngorms National Park Authority did not object to the development nor did a number of other consultees including the Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society, BT and Scottish Water.
Highland Council’s initial objection was withdrawn on 15 February, last year, after the adoption of National Planning Framework 4 and confirmation the ‘significant visual effects’ would be contained and localised.
Around 100 hectares of peatland will be restored as part of a habitat enhancement plan.
Once operational, the wind farm will deliver a community benefit fund of over £330,000 a year to support charities and local community projects. The construction of the wind farm will inject an estimated £11m into the Highlands economy. Issues raised in objections to the wind farm included:
• number and scale of existing and proposed wind farms;
• industrialisation of the landscape;
• noise and light disturbance to communities;
• impact on birds and bats; and
• light pollutions of dark skies.
But the developers said they have not encountered any tourists who say they will not return to Highland because of wind farms and many find the structures ‘pleasing and tranquil’ as well as generating eco-friendly power.
The operation of the wind farm has been granted for 30 years and the development also includes access tracks, borrow pits, substation, control building and ancillary infrastructure.
The committee is being asked to note the decision of the Scottish Ministers to grant consent for the wind farm with a generating capacity in excess of 50 megawatts some 15 kilometres north-east of Fort Augustus.
The full decision by Scottish Ministers can be read at https://www.highland.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/4922/south_planning_applications_committee
