By Jane Candlish
A conservation charity has appealed to Highland councillors to change their
minds on plans for two controversial windfarms in Sutherland.
The Scottish Government is asking the local authority to review its
previous response on the Glencassley and Sallachy windfarms near Lairg in
light of their pronouncements on wild land areas.
The two developments lie within one of the newly designated wild areas.
SSE Renewables’ Glencassley scheme involves around 23 turbines near
Rosehall, while WKN AG’s plans for Sallachy comprise 22 devices near Loch Shin.
In May last year, the council’s north planning committee agreed not to
object to the proposals.
But the committee has been asked to look again at its decision because of
the release of the wild lands map.
It will meet tomorrow to reassess its decision in light of the new
information. Planning officials have recommended maintaining their original
stance.
However, the John Muir Trust (JMT) has written to members of the committee
asking them to raise objections.
JMT policy officer, John Low said that if approved, turbines “each three
times the height of the Skye Bridge, would be scattered across an area
officially mapped and defined as wild land”.
He added: “The integrity of the entire Wild Land Areas map would be
compromised, and the commitments to wild land protection in the National
Planning Framework and Scottish Planning Policy would be rendered worthless.”
“We are now urging councillors to reconsider both applications in the light
of the spirit and content of new national planning policy and guidance.”
But last night, an SSE Renewables said: “We expect committee members to now
objectively consider the recommendation by their planners – which is to
make no further representation on this project.”
Oliver Patent, Head of Development UK, said: “In relation to wild land, the
new SPP does not designate wild land but instead allows it to be considered
alongside all other material planning considerations. The new SPP retains
the flexibility for the planning authority (in this case Highland Council
and the Scottish Government) to judge each application on its own merits
and to come to a final view based on the economic and social benefits of
the project.”
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