The Scottish Government’s Planning and Appeals Division (DPEA Scotland)  has granted planning permission for 2 wind farms by Hoolan Energy to go ahead in Orkney. The wind farms were rejected by Orkney Islands Council and went forward to appeal. Has Orkney Had Enough of Wind Farms?

Costa Head Wind Farm Ltd

Erect Four Wind Turbines (Max Capacity 14.4Mw, Max Height 125M), Erect A Meteorological Mast (Max Height 81M), Substation And Associated Infrastructure (Including Access Track)

Costa Head (Land Near), Swannay, Orkney, KW17 2NW

Decision

I allow the appeal and grant planning permission subject to the 23 conditions listed at the end of the decision notice. Attention is drawn to the five advisory notes and to the habitats regulations appraisal at the end of the notice.Malcolm Mahony Reporter

You can read the full decision here: Costa Head Decision Letter

Summary findings and conclusion

In summary, I find that the proposal would have significant but acceptable impacts on seascape, landscape and visual amenity and on archaeological assets.

Cumulative visual impacts would not be sufficient to reject the proposal.

There would be impacts on the amenity of nearby residential properties, but not to an extent which would fail the test which has been applied by Scottish Ministers in similar cases.

Effects on tourism and recreation are acceptable.

Ornithological impacts would not merit refusal of the application.

Ecological impacts can be adequately managed by mitigation measures and by the imposition of planning conditions.

The proposal is likely to have positive net socio-economic effects at both local and national levels.

It would support the aims of local and national strategies for renewable energy output and carbon reduction.

It would represent an important element of the case for a new grid interconnector to mainland Scotland with consequent economic benefits for Orkney and nationally.

Other potential impacts could be appropriately managed through planning conditions and other control regimes.

The proposal accords with and is strongly supported by National Planning Framework 3. It is generally consistent with Scottish Planning Policy. The proposal accords with the provisions of the local development plan, in particular Policies 1, 7 (together with Supplementary Guidance: Energy), 8, 9, 10 and 12.

For Full Details of the Planning Process visit: DPEA Scotland

Hesta Head Wind farm Ltd

Erect Five Wind Turbines (Max Capacity 20.4Mw, Max Height 125M), Erect Meteorological Mast (Max Height 81M), Substation And Associated Infrastructure (Including Access Track)

 Hesta Head (Land Near), South Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW17 2R

Decision

I allow the appeal and grant planning permission subject to the 23 conditions listed at the end of the decision notice. Attention is drawn to the five advisory notes and the habitats regulations appraisal at the end of the notice. Malcolm Mahony Reporter

You can read the full decision here: Hesta Head Decision

Summary findings and conclusion

In summary, I find that the proposal would have significant but acceptable impacts on seascape, landscape and visual amenity and on archaeological assets.

Cumulative visual impacts would not be sufficient to reject the proposal.

There would be impacts on the amenity of nearby residential properties, but not to an extent which would fail the test which has been applied by Scottish Ministers in similar cases.

Effects on tourism and recreation are acceptable.

Ornithological impacts would not merit refusal of the application.

Some effects on the Olad Hill Local Nature Conservation Site cannot be avoided, but satisfactory mitigation is proposed.

The proposal is likely to have positive net socio-economic effects at both local and national levels.

It would support the aims of local and national strategies for renewable energy output and carbon reduction.

It would represent an important element of the case for a new grid interconnector to mainland Scotland with consequent economic benefits for Orkney and nationally.

Other potential impacts could be appropriately managed through planning conditions and other control regimes.

The proposal accords with and is strongly supported by National Planning Framework 3. It is generally consistent with Scottish Planning Policy. The proposal accords with the provisions of the local development plan, in particular Policies 1, 7 (together with Supplementary Guidance: Energy), 8, 9 and 10.

For Full Details of the Planning Process visit: DPEA Scotland

There are lots of conditions attached to the development of both wind farms, full reasoning why the appeals were successful and objections rejected –   details of which can be found in the links to the documents in this article

Reporter: Fiona Grahame