Onshore wind energy guidance consultation extended

The deadline for members of the public to share their views on The Highland Council’s new Onshore Wind Energy Supplementary Guidance has been extended to Friday 22 May. Once approved, this guidance will be used for determining planning applications for wind energy development in Highland.

The consultation was launched on Monday 16 March with an initial deadline of 11 May and has been extended until Friday 22 May. So far the Council has received a range of responses from the public, community organisations and the development industry.

Principal Planner, David Cowie said: “Wind farms are an increasingly important issue for Highland and we need clear guidance on how to handle planning applications for them.  We have received a strong response to the consultation so far. Key issues emerging include the importance of cumulative impacts. This is an important subject for the guidance, and one that we are proposing to address by examining where strategic capacity for wind energy remains. The Consultation Paper sets out 11 main issues, including cumulative impacts and mapping strategic capacity. By sharing their views, people will help us to shape the draft Supplementary Guidance and address all of the issues raised in the Consultation Paper.”

People can take part in the consultation by visiting www.highland.gov.uk/onshorewind and submitting their comments following the guidance. Anyone without access to the internet can request a paper copy by contacting the Council’s Development Plans Team at: devplans@highland.gov.uk or by writing to: Development Plans Team, Development and Infrastructure Service, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX, or by phoning the Service Centre on 01349 886608.