A site visit by the North Planning Applications Committee to view the proposed Halsary, Bad a Cheo and Achlachan Wind Farm sites and the Dounreay single turbine site will take place on Monday 9 September 2013 leaving from the Georgemas Junction, Caithness at 10.30 am Route Map for Site Visit (613kb pdf).  To be followed by a meeting to take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Tuesday 17 September 2013 at 10.30 am.

You are invited to attend and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

Members are reminded that during determination of any item before this Committee they must be present throughout the whole of that item in order to be entitled to participate.

Members are further reminded that mobile devices, including mobile phones, can be used for following the agenda/reports and delivering speeches but should not be used for any form of communication (text or tweet) during the meeting.

Yours faithfully,

Alaisdair Mackenzie, Legal Manager
(for Assistant Chief Executive)

1. Apologies
Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3. Planning Applications to be Determined
Iarrtasan Dealbhaidh rin Dearbhadh

3.1  Applicant:  Scottish Power Renewables (UK) Ltd (09/00399/FULCA) (PLN-079-13 Part 1 (1694kb pdf) | PLN-079-13 Part 2 (954kb pdf))
Location:  Halsary Forest, Watten (Ward 4)
Nature of Development:  Construction of a wind farm containing 15 (as amended) wind turbines, crane hardstandings, site accesses from the A9(T), fenced substation and switchgear compound, on-site underground cabling, on-site access tracks and associated pipe bridges and watercourse crossings, removal of forestry, one permanent steel lattice or tubular tower anemometry mast, two temporary power performance assessment masts, and ancillary construction development including two temporary construction compounds/lay-down areas.
Recommendation:  Grant.

3.2  Applicant:  RWE Npower Renewables Ltd (12/02868/FUL) (PLN-080-13 Part 1 (934kb pdf) | PLN-080-13 Part 2 (1704kb pdf) | PLN-080-13 Part 3 (1035kb pdf))
Location:  Bad a Cheo, Achkeepster, Spittal (Ward 4)
Nature of Development:   Erection of 13 wind turbines, hard standings, anemometer mast, wind farm control building, temporary construction compound, lay down area and access tracks
Recommendation:  Grant.

3.3  Applicant:  Whirlwind Renewables (13/1190/FUL) (PLN-081-13 Part 1 (1577kb pdf) | PLN-081-13 Part 2 (1183kb pdf))
Location:  West of Mybster Farm, Spittal, Watten, Caithness (Achlachan Wind Farm)
Nature of Development:  Wind farm (5 wind turbines) with potential capacity of 10 mw. 
Recommendation:  Grant 

3.4  Applicant:  Mr Jeffery Bannerman (12/04399/FUL) (PLN-075-13 Part 1 (1816kb pdf) | PLN-075-13 Part 2 (414kb pdf))
Location:  Land 240 m SE of Balmore Farm, Dounreay (Ward 4)
Nature of Development:   Erection of single wind turbine 78 metres to blade tip, 49 m to hub with 58 diameter blades, formation of access track and new road junction along with ancillary electrical switchgear housing
Recommendation:  Refuse.