Meall Buidhe Wind Farm now set to go ahead on Croick Estate after Scottish Government reporter upholds appeal against planning refusal
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A CONTROVERSIAl Sutherland wind farm is now set to go ahead after developers succeeded in their appeal against Highland Council's decision to reject the scheme.
Members of the North Planning Applications Committee voted 9:2 against the eight-turbine, 40mw Meall Buidhe Wind Farm at a meeting in June last year.
However developers Meall Buidh Renewables LLP lodged an appeal against the decision and now a Scottish Government reporter has upheld that appeal with her report newly released in the public domain.
The Meall Buidhe turbines, seven measuring 149.9 metres in height and one 144.5m, are set to be built on a site on Croick Estate, four km south west of Rosehall and 12km west of Ardgay.
However there has been strong opposition to the development locally with residents in nearby communities concerned over its visual impact and the effect it will have on the landscape, environment, peatland and tourism.
There is also huge concern over the cumulative effect of Meall Buidhe along with other wind farms in existence and planned for the area.
Wind farm action group No Ring of Steel (NORoS) held a protest meeting against the scheme which was supported by residents from five Sutherland communities which will be most affected – Rosehall, Altass, Brae, Durcha and Linside.
At the June 2022 planning committee meeting the strength of local feeling was noted.
Highland Council planners had recommended that the wind farm be approved, acknowledging that it would have a significant visual impact, but stating that on balance the benefits outweighed the disadvantages.
Government reporter Alison Coard pointed out in her report that the site for the wind farm was not within an area of wild land, a special landscape are or other designation.
She writes: "I consider that the well-spaced positioning of the turbines and the nature of the landform would restrict significant effects to only a localised part of the landscape character type. However, it is notable that siting of a wind farm in this area of moorland would extend the influence of wind farms within this landscape."
She states: "I conclude that the proposed development accords overall with the relevant provisions of the development plan and that there are no material considerations which would still justify refusing to grant planning permission.
"I have considered all the other matters raised but there are none which would lead me to alter my conclusions."
The reporter has imposed 32 conditions on developers in a bid to mitigate the wind farm's impact.
The full report is available to read on the Scottish Government's Planning and Environmental Appeals Division website (dpea.scotland.gov.uk)
