Split decision for Kintyre wind

Scottish ministers have approved the 28MW Blary Hill wind farm on Kintyre while refusing Burcote Wind plans for the 54MW Creggan project.

RES Group was been given the green light to build the 14-turbine project which will feature tip heights of 110 metres at a site near Glennbarr in Argyll and Bute.

Burcote was denied permission for the 18-turbine Creggan, which had been recommended for refusal on landscape, visual and cumulative grounds.

Officials said impacts from Blary were within acceptable limits and outweighed by the benefits of the renewable energy to be produced.

The projects were considered together due to in-combination effects.

The RES site is currently used for commercial forestry and is seaward of ScottishPower’s operational Beinn an Tuirc complex.

Head of projects SImon Peltenburg said: “RES has worked hard to ensure our projects on Kintyre have focused on delivering investment into the local economy and utilised the local supply chain.

“We are delighted to have received a positive decision on Blary Hill and look forward maximising the local investment during construction.”

Image: RES assets on Kintyre include the Freasdail project (RES)