The Scottish Government (SG) has refused a proposal for 31 wind turbines in the Cairngorms National Park, considering the effects on natural and cultural heritage.<\/u><\/p>\n
The Scottish Government writes:
\n<\/u>Ministers have refused consent for the proposed 31-turbine wind farm at Allt Duine near Kincraig.<\/p>\n
Deputy First Minister John Swinney concluded the plan does not represent sustainable development as it would result in significant and unacceptable landscape and visual impacts on the Cairngorms National Park, an area of national importance for its natural and cultural heritage, and on wild land.<\/p>\n
The decision follows a public local inquiry and Scottish Government consultations on the potential impacts of the wind farm on the Cairngorms National Park and on the implications of the development on new planning policies.<\/p>\n
Mr Swinney said:\u2018The Scottish Government\u2019s policy on wind farms strikes a careful balance between maximising Scotland\u2019s huge green energy potential and protecting some of our most scenic landscape and wild areas. We have been clear that wind farms can only be built in the right places and Scottish Planning Policy sets out rigorous steps to ensure wind farms are sited appropriately and sensitively.<\/p>\n
\u2018I have considered the Allt Duine application fully and have refused permission as the proposal would have a significant and unacceptable landscape and visual impacts in the local area, including on the Cairngorms National Park and on a wild land area.<\/p>\n
\u2018The Scottish Government remains fully committed to renewables and to achieving our target of 100 per cent of our electricity demand coming from renewables by 2020.\u2019<\/p>\n
View the press release<\/a><\/p>\n IHBC newsblogs on wind turbine proposals<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Scottish Government (SG) has refused a proposal for 31 wind turbines in the Cairngorms National Park, considering the effects on natural and cultural heritage. The Scottish Government writes: Ministers have refused consent for the proposed 31-turbine wind farm at … Continue reading