Armadale Wind Farm turbines would have 'startling' effect on landscape, planning officers says as councillors are advised to object to the development
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North councillors are being advised to object to a planning application to build a wind farm which it is feared would "overwhelm" the north Sutherland village of Armadale.
Brookfield Renewables is seeking permission to build a nine-turbine wind farm on an area of hill land and common grazings overlooking the village.
Members of the North Planning applications Committee will consider the application at their meeting in Inverness next Tuesday, March 5.
The final decision will be taken by Scottish Ministers due to the scale of the development, but the local authority is a statutory consultee.
North area planning officer Dafydd Jones is recommending that councillors object to the proposed development, saying the 150m high turbines would have a "startling" impact on the landscape and the section of the A836, that forms part of tourism route North Coast 500.
The planning application attracted 129 objections from individuals with NatureScot and the council's ecology, landscape, conservation and transport officials also objecting. NatureScot is concerned about the loss of grassland and heath.
In the report to councillors, Mr Jones said: "The proposal raises concerns for the visual amenity of the key A836/NC500 tourist route as the development would present an ever-changing relationship to the landform with turbines moving in and out of view along a 10 kilometre straight line section of this route.
"As such, the proposals would have a startling impact which would tend to overwhelm the landscape for receptors at this point."
Mr Jones said the development would also impact on the coastal sweep between Bettyhill and Portskerra,
He said: "Set at close proximity to the road and the settlement of Armadale, it cannot even in its modified form, be accommodated without significantly detracting from the sense of place in this wider landscape.
"The poor siting and design of the proposal, the extent of resultant landscape and visual effects, as well as the natural habitat and built heritage impacts, are deemed unacceptable."
Mr Jones said the turbines would have an unacceptable impact on Farr Bay, Strathy and Portskerra Special Landscape Area (SLA).
Brookfield Renewable removed three turbines from the Armadale scheme in response to feedback on its original design.
The renewable energy company says the revised scheme could go ahead without undue impact on the landscape or the community.
It says it will play its part in the net zero drive by contributing 85 megawatts of renewable energy to the national grid.
If approved, it would operate a community benefit fund worth up to £215,000 per annum.
