Agenda item

Report by Head of Planning and Regulatory Services

The Principal Planning Officer spoke to the terms of the report advising that this proposal seeks the construction of a single wind turbine with a hub height 60m and rotor diameter of 48m (84m to blade tip), with associated substation, crane pad and temporary hardstanding and the upgrading of 550m of existing forestry track.  The turbine, part of the internal access track, crane hardstanding, electrical control building and temporary construction compound are all to be located within ‘Sensitive Countryside’ as designated by the Local Plan Proposals Maps.  Reference was also made to supplementary planning report number 1 advising Members on further information which has been received since completion of the original report circulated with the agenda papers.   There have been objections raised by 49 individuals, 1 letter of support and 1 general representation.  The proposal is considered contrary to: Scottish Planning Policy; Scottish Government’s Specific Advice Sheet on Onshore Wind Farms; Polices Strat SI 1, STRAT RE 1, and STRAT DC 5 of the Argyll and Bute Structure Plan (2002); and Policies LP ENV 1, LP ENV 19 and LP REN 1 of the Argyll and Bute Local Plan (2009).  Notwithstanding the contribution that this proposal could make towards combating climate change, development giving rise to inappropriate environmental consequences cannot be viewed as being sustainable; consequently, the proposal is recommended for refusal.

Decision

Agreed to refuse planning permission for the following reasons:-

1.        The proposed turbine is located near a group of summits on an outlying series of low hills which form the upper end of the Kintyre peninsula and which are slightly set apart from the main plateau, within the ‘Upland Forest Moor Mosaic’ Landscape Character Type (ref ‘Argyll & Bute Landscape Wind Energy Capacity Study (LWECS) – Final main report and appendix March 2012’ - SNH/Argyll & Bute Council), and the proposal will influence a number of adjacent more sensitive coastal Landscape Character Types including: ‘Rocky Mosaic’ and ‘Coastal Parallel Ridges’. 

At 84 metres in height, the turbine would be at an elevation of c230m AOD to give a total height to blade tip of 314 AOD.  Development on this scale would introduce large scale development on the skyline which would be likely to alter the perception of landform scale and impinge on the setting of the summits and which would also intrude into coastal panoramas to both the west and east, including offshore locations.  The proposal constitutes an outlier from the established pattern of existing wind turbine development within the Kintyre peninsula, where it would not share the locational advantages of consented locations which do not exert such a degree of influence over the appreciation of the coast and those landscapes which are characterised by the contrast between the land and the sea. Scattered development elsewhere along the length of the peninsula is likely to have a wider impact on landscape character and scenic quality than consolidating the existing focus for development by intruding, as in this case, upon the landscape setting of West Loch Tarbert for example. 

The remainder of the spine is therefore sensitive in landscape terms to further development given that the ends of the peninsula are visually important as focal points in views up and down the coast and along the Sounds which increases their sensitivity. The proposal would therefore adversely affect the character, key views and qualities of this local landscape contrary to the advice given by the ‘Argyll and Bute Wind Energy Capacity Study’, which seeks to steer new turbine development involving Larger Typologies (80 – 130m) away from the more complex irregular small hills found on the outer edge of the Kintyre Peninsula, so as to avoid intrusion on the setting and views from the adjacent settled and small scale ‘Rocky Mosaic’. The presence of an isolated turbine on this scale would therefore give rise to disproportionate cumulative landscape impacts contrary to Local Plan Policy LP REN 1. 

The foregoing environmental considerations are of such magnitude that they cannot be reasonably offset by the projected direct or indirect benefits which a development of this scale would make to the achievement of climate change related commitments.

Having due regard to the above, it is considered that this proposal would have a significant adverse impact on Landscape Character and contribute to the cumulative impact of wind turbine development in Kintyre. It is therefore inconsistent with the provisions of the Scottish Planning Policy and Scottish Government’s Specific Advice Sheet on Onshore Wind Farms;  Policies STRAT SI 1: Sustainable Development; STRAT DC 5: Development in Sensitive Countryside, Policy STRAT DC 8: Landscape & Development Control; Policy STRAT RE 1: Wind Farm/Wind Turbine Development of the ‘Argyll & Bute Structure Plan’ (approved 2009) and Policies LP ENV 10: Development Impact on Areas of Panoramic Quality; LP REN 1: Commercial Wind Farm and Wind Turbine Development of the ‘Argyll & Bute Local Plan’ (adopted 2009); and the ‘Argyll & Bute Landscape Wind Energy Capacity Study’ (LWECS) – Final main report and appendix March 2012.

2.        The proposal would have relatively high visibility, compared to other wind farm development on the peninsula, which benefits from the effects of the elevated topography of the spine of Kintyre which successfully restricts views of approved turbines from habitation, transport routes and more sensitive and scenic coastal locations.  It would also break the skyline of Kintyre, spreading the extent of development on the skyline to the northern end of the peninsula which currently benefits from an absence of large scale turbine development.

This proposal will result in an unacceptable level of visual impact due to its vertical scale; blade rotation and the fact that from certain sensitive receptors it will be skylined; out of scale with the landscape; and, will introduce an element which is uncharacteristic with the attributes of the landscape to be developed.  This will result in a noticeable change to the visual character, composition and quality of views as experienced by the people associated with the sensitive receptors including: properties in close proximity; settlements; such as Whitehouse, the B8001 and National Cycle Route 73, the Kintyre Way, locations on the south coast of Knapdale along the B8024 and National Cycle Route 78, and parts of the North Arran NSA. It is considered that due to the absence of other structures of this magnitude in the immediate locality this development would be conspicuous and distinct and would dominate and control these views.

The proposal would therefore represent an unwelcome intrusion in available views from coastal locations and other locations of scenic importance to the detriment of the character and tourism potential of the area.

The foregoing environmental considerations are of such magnitude that they cannot be reasonably offset by the projected direct and indirect benefits which a development of this scale would make to the achievement of climate change related commitments. 

Having due regard to the above, it is considered that the proposal would have a significant adverse visual impact contrary to the provisions of the Scottish Planning Policy and Scottish Government’s Specific Advice Sheet on Onshore Wind Farms;  Policies STRAT SI 1: Sustainable Development; STRAT DC 5: Development in Sensitive Countryside; Policy STRAT DC 8: Landscape & Development Control; Policy STRAT RE 1: Wind Farm/Wind Turbine Development of the ‘Argyll & Bute Structure Plan’ (approved 2009) and Policy LP REN 1: Commercial Wind Farm and Wind Turbine Development of the ‘Argyll & Bute Local Plan’ (adopted 2009).

(Reference: Report by Head of Planning and Regulatory Services dated 9 January 2013 and Supplementary Planning Report No 1 dated 21 January 2013, submitted)