Strathy Wood Wind Farm gets go-ahead
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Scottish Ministers have given the go-ahead to a controversial, 13-turbine wind farm at Strathy Forest.
The decision to consent to the Strathy Wood Wind Farm was taken following a public inquiry into the 54.6mw development.
Highland Council agreed in June last year not to support RWE's application for planning consent.
Strathy Wood Wind Farm is to go on forest land between SSE’s 33-turbine Strathy North Wind Farm which is operational, and its consented 39-turbine Strathy South Wind Farm.
Plans for the Strathy Wood scheme go back as far as 2013 with power company E.ON originally applying for up to 26 turbines measuring 145 metres to tip height.
But the application has undergone various amendments with the number of turbines reduced to 18 and then 13. However, the turbines proposed are now bigger, measuring 180 metres to tip.
E.ON is no longer involved in this site as its renewables business transferred to RWE in October 2019.
Planners have received a number of objections from individuals and environmental groups including RSPB, John Muir Trust and Wildland Ltd.
There are concerns that the site is adjacent to Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands Special Protection Area and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Fears have also been expressed about the visual impact.
RWE today confirmed that its Strathy Wood had received planning consent, following a public inquiry into the proposals.
Jodie Gunn, Head of Scotland UK Onshore Wind Development RWE, said: “It has been a long-standing project and one which we know will support Scotland’s ambitious targets for renewable generation.
“We would also like to thank our local stakeholders and communities who have provided useful feedback throughout the planning processes.
“We now look forward to working together with communities and the supply chain on the next steps of the project, and realising the potential environmental and economic benefits it could bring for Scotland.”
