Issue - meetings

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT: SECTION 36 CONSULTATION FOR ERECTION OF 13 TURBINES EACH UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 180 METRES IN HEIGHT TO BLADE TIP: LAND APPROXIMATELY 6KM NORTH WEST OF INVERARAY AND 4.5KM EAST OF DALAVICH (REF: 23/00795/S36)

Meeting: 22/05/2024 - Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee (Item 8)

8 THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT: SECTION 36 CONSULTATION FOR ERECTION OF 13 TURBINES EACH UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 180 METRES IN HEIGHT TO BLADE TIP: LAND APPROXIMATELY 6KM NORTH WEST OF INVERARAY AND 4.5KM EAST OF DALAVICH (REF: 23/00795/S36) pdf icon PDF 430 KB

Report by Head of Development and Economic Growth

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Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Senior Planning Officer spoke to the terms of the report.  Consideration was given to a recommended response to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit and Deployment Unit consultation on the Section 36 Application for the erection of 13 turbines each up to a maximum of 180 metries in height to blade tip at land approximately 6 km north west of Inveraray and 4.5 km east of Dalavich.

 

The site is located on the plateau between Loch Awe to the north west and Loch Fyne to the south east and within the Kames River, Allt Blarghour, River Aray and Douglas Water catchments.

 

This report reviews the policy considerations which are applicable to this proposal and the planning merits of the development, the views of bodies consulted by the Scottish Government along with other consultations undertaken by the Council, and third party opinion expressed to the Scottish Government.

 

It was recommended that the ECU be notified that Argyll and Bute Council does not object to the proposed development and to recommend the ECU to consider mitigation and conditions as detailed in the report of handling.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed that the ECU be notified accordingly that Argyll and Bute Council objects to the proposed development unless the following mitigation recommended by the Council’s Landscape Consultant is undertaken to the satisfaction of the Planning Authority:

 

Mitigation 

 

That consideration should be given to the mitigation suggested by the Council’s Landscape Consultant as follows: 

 

·       The well-wooded nature of the Loch Awe area restricts open views across and along the loch but where these views do occur, they are particularly valuable for their scenic qualities. The loch shores near Dalavich comprise one of these important open areas as does the road between Loch Awe and Loch Avich and the shores and waters of Loch Avich. The proposal appears poorly designed from these areas and it is strongly recommended that the layout of turbines is reviewed by the applicant from Viewpoints 2, 5 and 11 with the overlapping of Turbines 2, 8 and 10 resolved and Turbine 13 omitted as this appears dislocated from the main group of turbines and significantly increases the horizontal extent of the proposal in these views.  

 

·       In addition, significant adverse effects on the Dun na Cuaiche folly within the Inveraray Castle GDL are acknowledged likely to arise in the LVIA (Viewpoint 4). This is an important viewpoint, and the cluttered appearance of the proposal contributes to significant adverse effects on views. It is therefore strongly recommended that the layout of turbines is reviewed by the applicant from Viewpoint 4 with the discordant overlapping of Turbines 2 and 8 resolved and the prominence of Turbines 1 and 2 reduced by adjusting their location and/or lowering their height.  

 

·       In addition, the cumulative effects of visible aviation lighting on landscape character and on views is also a concern and while there will be fewer people affected at night, it is considered important to retain the character of dark skies within Argyll & Bute, particularly given the number of wind energy proposals across the region with similar lighting. It is therefore strongly recommended that radar activated lighting should be installed at the earliest opportunity as this would substantially reduce the duration and impact of night-time lighting.  

 

The Council would also make the following comments in respect to conditions, ornithology and trunk road matters

 

Conditions 

 

The inclusion of all conditions recommended by consultees in any consent granted by the ECU.  

 

Ornithology and Trunk Road Matters 

 

That the ECU should note that it has not been possible for Argyll & Bute Council to reach a conclusion on the acceptability of this proposal in respect to Ornithology or Trunk Road matters. This is because these matters have not been resolved and discussions are ongoing between the Applicant, the ECU, NatureScot, RSPB Scotland and Transport Scotland. 

 

In respect to the outstanding Ornithological matters, Argyll & Bute Council would defer to the expert advice of NatureScot and the RSPB Scotland. 

 

In respect to the outstanding Trunk Road matters, Argyll & Bute Council would defer to the expert advice of Transport Scotland.

 

(Reference: Report by Head of Development and Economic Growth dated 9 May 2024, submitted)

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