May 9, 2016
Scotland

Council planners recommend the refusal of a proposed wind farm near Blairgowrie

By Iain Howie | Daily Record | 8 May 2016 | www.dailyrecord.co.uk

A cross-border wind farm scheme near Blairgowrie has been earmarked for refusal by council planners.

Councillors are being asked to throw out the 14-turbine Saddlehill bid at Glen Isla, because of its “unacceptable” impact on landscapes, with knock-on affects on tourism and ancient monuments.

If that is supported, it would follow Angus Council’s unanimous rejection on similar grounds in March of the £45million green energy application by Wind Prospect.

Perth and Kinross Council’s development management committee is due to meet on Wednesday to rule on the area of the plan in its remit.

Six turbines reaching 115m to blade tip fall within Perthshire, with the 14 turbines to be spread over a 456 hectares plot.

Recommending refusal, development quality manager Nick Brian’s report says: “The location, prominence, scale and layout of the proposed windfarm would have unacceptable adverse landscape impacts. Including cumulative landscape impacts on the immediate landscape character as well as the wider landscape setting and the Highland Boundary Fault. It is considered that the magnitude of the adverse effects associated with the development are significant and environmentally unacceptable.”

The scheme drew 378 objections, while groups such as Scottish Natural Heritage highlighted the impact on the Highland Boundary fault line.

As part of the scheme Perth and Kinross Council understands that Coupar Angus would be the likely grid connection point for the scheme, which could see a additional electricity poles erected nearby.

The report also says that several other wind farms are operational, in planning or in construction in the area.

These include the 16 turbine Drumderg scheme with plans for Dulater currently with Scottish ministers, with 17 turbines reaching up to 125 to blade tip.

In the papers, Mr Brian compares and contrasts the schemes with views of potential impacts from vantage points around Perthshire considered.

And an independent study emphasised that significant cumulative effects would extend approximately 12km within Perth and Kinross, and that the Saddle Hill plan was visually at odds with other schemes.

If approved the scheme, with capacity for 35MW of power, would be enough for 21,000 homes. Around £4m would be made available annually to nearby community projects.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/05/09/council-planners-recommend-the-refusal-of-a-proposed-wind-farm-near-blairgowrie/