Developers behind plans for a nine-turbine windfarm in Aberdeenshire described the scheme as a “best in class example” of a commercial firm working to benefit the community.
Planning chiefs have recommended proposals for the windfarm at Cairnborrow, near Huntly, for refusal based on concerns about the impact the 360ft masts would have on the landscape. There is also an objection from the Ministry of Defence, which fears the turbines would interfere with the radars at RAF Lossiemouth and Buchan and cause problems for monitoring aircraft.
Last night developers West Coast Energy was disappointed – but hopeful councillors would look past the recommendation and see the benefits of the windfarm. One of the nine turbines would become a community turbine, with the Huntly Development Trust becoming the owners. The scheme could bring in more than £1.5million local causes over the 25-year lifetime of the development.
Steve Salt, planning and development director at West Coast Energy, said: “Farmers and communities have a right to make applications for smaller-scale projects, but surely it is better when there’s a commercial developer working with a local farmer offering a community benefit for just the one project.”
Huntly Development Trust chairman Richard Hammock added: “While we understand the pressure planners are under due to the number of standalone single-turbine applications coming forward, the trust is disappointed by the planners’ recommendation for refusal as we do not believe it reflects the merits of the Cairnborrow project but rather a wider concern about the scale of proposed windfarm development in Aberdeenshire.”
Mr Salt was hopeful councillors would also consider the fact that just 12 objections had been lodged. But in a report, head of planning and building standards Robert Gray tells members of the Marr area committee concerns about the impact the turbines would have on the landscape, as well as the objection from the MoD, meant the planning service could not support the application.