Current windfarms around north of CNP, Grantown roughly centre of image.
Brian Heaton
At the time of writing no further developments in the applications for the GlenDye and Hill of Fare Wind Farms have been reported to have taken place. These are of significant local interest and if any developments, which have a restricted time scale requiring an immediate written response by people wishing to object are identified, these will be brought to members attention. A revised draft of the Scotland Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) was issued in November 2022 but the final document has still to be issued. This sets out policies covering aspects of the development of wind farms.
There have been several proposals for the development of wind farms close to the Cairngorms National Park. These are considered by the Cairngorms National Park Authority Planning Committee, along with other proposed developments, and can be seen in the Committee meeting papers. The papers for the next future meeting and those from previous meetings of the Planning Committee can be seen on cairngorms.co.uk/planning-development/committee-meetings. An interesting map showing the many wind farms currently in place, being constructed or planned can be seen in the papers for the meeting held on the 10th of March 2023. (Item 10 Appendix 1, see next page for excerpt).
The map covers the area to the north of the Park's boundary and covers a submission for the Ourack Wind Farm. The development was considered by the Planning Officer reporting to the Committee and their report, which can be seen in the papers, recommended that that subject to a few recommendations there was no objection in principle to the development. The meeting of the Planning Committee held on the 11th of November 2022 considered two wind farms developments. The first, the Craig Watch Wind Farm, it was recommended not to object to, but the second, the Cloiche Wind Farm it was recommended that it did. The NEMT objected to this one. It would be situated in the Monadhliath mountains just outside the western edge of the Park and is essentially two clusters of turbines adjoining the west and eastern areas of the existing Stronelairg Wind Farm. The grounds for objection were the diminishing of the landscape character and SLQs (Special Landscape Qualities) adding significantly to the existing adverse effects of the Stronelairg Wind Farm.
Current windfarms around north of CNP, Grantown roughly centre of image.
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