ScottishPower Renewables’ proposed 100.8MW Clauchrie wind farm looks set to go to a planning inquiry after an objection from South Ayrshire Council.
The statutory consultee cited significant adverse landscape and visual effects due to the scale and positioning of the proposed turbines.
The council said that this would not be mitigated by reducing the size or number of turbines. “The location of this proposal is inappropriate given the sensitivity of nearby landscapes,” it said.
SPR’s plans call for 18 200-metre turbines and 25MW of battery storage, 3km south of the village of Barr.
The local authority is also objecting because of concerns the wind farm would introduce “prominent and intrusive lights into an area important for its dark skies”.
It particularly highlighted two proposed turbines lying in a ‘rugged uplands with lochs and forests’ landscape area which its 2018 capacity study suggested had no scope for over 50 metre turbines.
The council said detailed field work was needed to verify the visual effects and night-time lighting impact on Barr, Colmonell and the lower Stinchar Valley.
But the local authority said it had had to respond by the statutory end of June deadline as the applicant had refused its request for a three-month extension due to the impact of coronavirus, and therefore had responded on delegated authority rather than referring it to elected members.
It added that parts of its submission could need to be modified as coronavirus relaxations allowed site visits.
Scottish Natural Heritage has objected due to the impact on the Merrick Wild Land Area and night-time lighting impact. Glasgow Prestwick Airport has also objected until a Radar Mitigation Scheme is in place.
An objection has also been received by Barrhill community council.
The application will be determined by the Scottish government.