Scottish planners have dismissed an appeal brought by PI Renewables seeking to overturn the Highland Council’s refusal of planning permission for the Carn Gorm wind farm near Inverness.
The Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals said that the a 14-turbine wind farm would have had an “unacceptable impact and would be significantly detrimental” to the Ben Wyvis special landscape area.
The proposal was not in accord with the Highland-wind Local Development Plan Policy 57 and Policy 67, which refers to impacts on the natural environment, amenity and heritage resources and natural, built and cultural heritage features respectively.
In particular, the directorate cited the visual impact on Marybank, the summit of Ben Wyvis, Contin An Cabar and the A832 from Torriegorrie to Gorstan.
It did say that the development would have benefits but they were not “sufficient to outweigh the conflict with protecting the landscape and safeguarding the character of wild land”.
The Mountaineering Council of Scotland welcomed the decision.
MCofS chief executive officer David Gibson said: “Scotland’s wild land is continually and rapidly diminishing in the face of wind farm developments.
“Because of this we call on Highland Council’s South Planning Committee to refuse permission for the Culachy wind farm when it meets tomorrow.
“That development would see 13 massive turbines, up to 490ft tall, set within the already-reduced Creag Meagaidh Wild Land Area and close to two National Scenic Areas and several Special Landscape Areas.”
Image: sxc
