Controversial third wind turbine wins go-ahead
A small windfarm near Alvah is set to get bigger with the addition of a third turbine, despite planners warning it would have an ‘overbearing impact’ on the landscape.
Government watchdog Historic Scotland are also concerned about the impact on the nationally-important Inchdrewer Castle nearby.
Councillors on Aberdeenshire’s Banff and Buchan area committee last week approved Turriff-based Duncan Greenenergy’s plans to erect a wind turbine on farmland at Strath of Brydock, Alvah.
The planning consent will allow the extension of the company’s two-turbine windfarm, with work on the first two turbines now started, nine months after planning permission was granted.
The councillors’ decision contradicts their own planning service’s recommendation to refuse permission to extend the development.
The planners argued that the turbine would have a “visually dominant and overbearing impact” on the area, and would set a precedent for developments of this scale in similar farmland locations throughout Banff and Buchan, and beyond.
Historic Scotland also warned that the additional turbine would have a significant impact on the setting of the ‘A’ listed Inchdrewer Castle, located just over a kilometre away.
While the group made no official objection, they stated that the highest priority should be given to preserving the “nationally important” building and its surroundings.
At last Tuesday’s area committee meeting in Banff, council planning officer Darren Ross reiterated his department’s concerns over the visual impact of the new turbine.
He said: “We are extremely supportive, in principle, of renewable energy developments.
“However, this third turbine will have an adverse impact on the landscape.”
However, Banff and District councillor John Cox noted that there had been no practical objections to the plans.
He said: “I think the benefits far outweigh any detrimental impact.”
His motion to approve the new wind turbine was unanimously agreed by the committee.
The turbine will be of the same design and dimensions to the two models currently under construction.
The hub height will be 63 metres and it will have a blade turning circle of 71 metres, effectively giving it a maximum height of 100 metres.
The seven wind turbines at Boyndie, by comparison, are 113m from ground to blade tip.
This proposed new turbine is a direct replacement for another deleted from the original plans.
When the initial application was submitted, it contained plans for three turbines, one of which was subsequently removed from an amended application, due to its close proximity to Inchdrewer Castle.
This new turbine will now be sited over a kilometre from the castle, compared to just 435 metres previously.
2 December 2008
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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