Cabling associated with multi-million-pound offshore windfarms will likely
be rerouted to protect Angus farmland.
The infrastructure is associated with the Seagreen Alpha and Bravo
developments planned east of Angus, which were among four offshore
windfarms granted Scottish government consent last October.
The Forth and Tay region schemes will have enough generating capacity to
power 1.4 million homes, with Seagreen involving up to 150 turbines and a
capacity of 1,050 megawatts.
In November, Angus Council granted permission in principle for the
electrical transmission infrastructure, which incorporates a cabling route
between Carnoustie and Tealing, and although the exact route is yet to be
determined councillors are being asked to consider a change in the vicinity
of Balhungie Farm near Carnoustie to avoid poly-tunnelling and irrigation
infrastructure.
The council’s head of planning and place, Vivien Smith, said: “Angus
Council has granted planning permission for a cable route extending from
the foreshore at Carnoustie to a proposed substation site at Tealing, and
that permission remains extant.
“This application seeks permission for a realignment of a small section of
that overall route.
“While the development would give rise to a number of environmental and
amenity impacts, I do not consider the impacts associated with the
realigned route would be any greater than those associated with the
approved route.”
She added: “The applicant has indicated that should permission be granted
for the alternative route subject of this application, it would be
implemented alongside the extant permission for the larger route following
approval of all matters specified in conditions.
“Whilst the proposed realigned route is acceptable, I do not consider that
it would be desirable to have a situation whereby the work and
environmental impacts associated with both routes could occur in the
vicinity of Balhungie.”
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