Call for councillors to object to Armadale wind farm plan
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Highland councillors are being asked to back opposition to a controversial wind farm it is feared would “overwhelm” the north Sutherland village of Armadale.
Planning officer Dafydd Jones believes the nine turbines would have a “startling” impact on the landscape and the section of the A836, which is part of the NC500.
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Brookfield Renewable wants the go-ahead to erect the 150-metre high turbines on hill land and common grazings above the village.
Because of the size of the development, the final decision will be taken by Scottish Ministers.
Mr Jones is recommending members of thenorth planning committee register their objection when it goes in front of them on Tuesday of next week.
The application attracted 129 individual objections.
Opposition also came from NatureScot and from council ecology, landscape, conservation and transport officials.
NatureScot is concerned about the loss of acid grassland and heath.
In his report Mr Jones said: “The proposal raises concerns for the visual amenity of the key A836 / NC500 tourist route as the development would present an ever-changing relationship to the landform with turbines moving in and out of view along a 10 kilometre straight line section of this route.
“As such, the proposals would have a startling impact which would tend to overwhelm the landscape for receptors at this point.”
Mr Jones said the development would also impinge on the coastal sweep between Bettyhill and Portskerra,
“Set at close proximity to the road and the settlement of Armadale, it cannot even in its modified form, be accommodated without significantly detracting from the sense of place in this wider landscape.
“The poor siting and design of the proposal, the extent of resultant landscape and visual effects, as well as the natural habitat and built heritage impacts, are deemed unacceptable.”
Mr Jones said the turbines would have an unacceptable impact on Farr Bay, Strathy and Portskerra Special Landscape Area (SLA).
Brookfield Renewable dropped three turbines from the Armadale scheme in response to feedback about its original lay-out.
Brookfield maintains the revised scheme could go ahead without undue impact on the landscape or the community.
It says it will play its part in the net zero drive by contributing 85 megawatts of renewable energy to the national grid.
If approved, it would operate a community benefit fund worth up to £215,000 per annum.
