Scottish Government gives go-ahead to Garvary Wind Farm
Scottish Ministers have today given the go-ahead to another controversial wind farm application in Sutherland.
The Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit has granted planning consent for the 24-turbine, 144MW Garvary Wind Farm to be built on a site 4.5km south of Lairg and 5.5km north of Bonar Bridge.
The site is located on the Garvary and Achinduich Estates, approximately 4600m north-east of Invershin Community Hall, to the east of the A836.
The decision comes as wind farm campaign group No Ring of Steel (NORoS) is holding a public meeting at Bonar Bridge Hall tonight.
Sutherland MSP Maree Todd will attend the meeting and local people are expected to voice their discontent at the number of proposals for electricity infrastructure, particularly in the Kyle of Sutherland area.
The green light for the Garvary Wind Farm also comes just weeks after Scottish Ministers gave the go-ahead to another contentious development - the Strath Oykel Wind Farm.
Highland Council’s North Planning Applications Committee agreed to follow the recommendation of their planning officers and object to the Garvary application - submitted by Coriolis Energy and ESB - at a meeting in June 2023.
Councillors cited concerns about the visual impact on the landscape, particularly from the Struie viewpoint - known as the "Millionaire’s View". There were also concerns about the cumulative impact of the wind farm.
A public inquiry into the application was held in March last year and in a report dated May 24, the government’s planning reporter recommended that Section 36 consent be granted.
His report stated: “National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) represents a seismic shift in the planning balance… decision makers must now give significant weight to the global climate and nature crises…. Garvey is strongly supported by NPF4… For this reason, and since there are no other adverse material considerations, consent and planning permission should be granted for Garvary.”
The Garvary Wind Farm proposal includes a community benefit package of £5,000 per MW of installed capacity (index linked), which would generate £720,000 per year over the lifetime of the project.
Following discussions in late 2021 and early 2022, five local and neighbouring community councils agreed to share the Community Benefit Fund as follows should the project be approved: Creich Community Council will receive 35 per cent; Lairg 25 per cent; Ardgay and District Community Council 20 per cent: Rogart 15 per cent; and Dornoch Area Community Council five per cent.
James Baird, development manager for Garvary Wind Farm, said: “We would like to thank the local community and consultees for their time and input into the project over several years. Their input and feedback has helped shape this project.
“Garvary Wind Farm will provide substantial renewable energy as well as an economic and community benefit investment into the local area.”
The proposed development is a partnership between Coriolis Energy and ESB. Coriolis Energy, with offices in Glasgow, is an independent, UK-based renewables developer and has been developing renewable energy projects since 2007, primarily focused on onshore wind.
ESB, headquartered in Ireland, is a leading independent power generator in the UK. ESB has offices in Glasgow and is heavily involved in onshore wind, offshore wind, electric vehicle infrastructure and renewable heating systems, such as the low-carbon heating and cooling system installed in the V&A Dundee.
