Highland Cooncillors* are due to make a site-visit today (11 April) to the
proposed Aberarder Wind Farm site before making a decision on the project
at their committee meeting tomorrow (12 April).
The site visit will allow members to see firsthand the project’s location,
which is sited next to the consented Dunmaglass Wind Farm. It cannot be
seen from Loch Ness.
Aberarder Wind Farm was initially discussed at the cooncil’s South Planning
Applications Committee in March, at which which councillors decided to
undertake a site visit.
The proposed wind farm is for 12 turbines up to 130m inheight to tip and is
approximately four miles south of East Croachy. The nearest residential
property is situated more than two miles away.
Aberarder Wind Farm is recommended for approval by Highland Council
officials and has received no objections from key statutory consultees such
as SNH, SEPA and Historic Environment Scotland.
RES, a UK company employing over 100 staff in Scotland, has developed three
wind farms in the Highlands and has a track record of working with local
companies to help deliver their projects.
If approved, the project will bring significant local economic and
community benefit to the Highlands. The construction contract for the
project is estimated to be £8 million.
RES is also committed toproviding community benefit of up to £5,000 per
megawatt (MW) of installed capacity if the scheme is consented, which
equates to up to £4.5m over the lifetime of the project.
RES Development Manager John Appleton said: “We welcome councillors
undertaking a site visit for Aberarder Wind Farm and we are confident that
it will demonstrate that this is a good site for a wind farm and that it is
well sited within the landscape.”
Jamie Corser, Business Development Manager, RJ McLeod (Contractors) Ltd,
said: “Aberarder wind farm has the potential to deliver significant
socio-economic benefits to the area during construction in the form of
local jobs and employment, use of local services, and local spend.
“As a Highlands civil engineering company with over 60 years experience,
onshore wind development has become an increasingly important part of our
work portfolio. The construction of wind farms has allowed us to expand our
local workforce across the Highlands and this has also had a considerable
knock-on effect for other local employers.
“Continuing onshore wind development is significant in the ongoing success
of our business and we urge Highland Council to recognise this in their
decision-making.”
** ‘Cooncil’ is the Scots language word for ‘council’ and is not pejorative:
Dictionar o’ the Scots Leid / Dictionary of the Scots Language –
http://goo.gl/7xo5Bk
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