Scottish Government gives green light to Chleansaid Wind Farm near Lairg
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The Scottish Government has given the green light to the developers of a proposed 16-turbine wind farm in Sutherland.
The way is now clear for ESB Energy - the main gas and electricity supplier in Ireland - to build Chleansaid Wind Farm on a site on Dalnessie Estate, to the north-east of Lairg.
The development will have an installed capacity of approximately 96 megawatts. Twelve turbines will have a maximum tip height of 180m and four will have a maximum tip height of 200m.
Chleansaid project manager Jessica Yanetta has welcomed the decision.
She said: “The consent for Chleansaid Wind Farm underlines the Scottish Government and Highland Council’s support for renewables and the creation of local jobs.”
NatureScot, Mountaineering Scotland and two community councils objected to the wind farm during the planning process.
Both NatureScot and Mountaineering Scotland said the development would have a negative impact on the landscape and countryside
The wind farm site is within 10 kilometres of three different wildlands, Caithness and Sutherland peatlands, and several moors, lochs and rivers with special environmental protections.
Rogart and Golspie community councils both objected to the plan, citing concerns about construction traffic, and a feeling that Highland has already done its bit to meet national renewable energy targets. However, Lairg Community Council offered its support.
Highland Council’s North Planning Applications Committee agreed not to object to Chleansaid Wind Farm at a meeting in December 2022.
As a major national development, the application falls within the scope of the Electricity Act and is therefore decided by the Scottish Government rather than Highland Council. However, the council is a statutory consultee.
Highland Council planners said many of the concerns about the development could be mitigated by the imposition of certain conditions.
The Scottish Government’s consent includes commitments for environmental improvements, including peatland restoration, the creation and improvement of fisheries habitats and opportunities to increase black grouse numbers through the planting of native woodland.
Ms Yanetta said: “We would like to put on record our thanks to the local communities for their input into the development throughout the planning process.
“We understand that construction traffic is a key consideration and will be organising early engagement to ensure that local priorities are taken into account.”
Construction is expected to start in 2025 and ESB will organise a community meeting in 2024 before construction begins.
