Councillors urged to reject major wind farm development unless conditions met

Planners have recommended that councillors object to a new wind farm planned for New Cumnock unless a swathe of conditions are included in any permissions.

Unlike normal planning applications, wind farms are considered by the Scottish Energy Consents Unit within the Scottish Government.

The council is merely a consultee, albeit a major one.

On Friday, the council’s planning committee will be asked to approve its position on the application for 5 turbines at Pencloe, north-east of New Cumnock.

Each turbine would stand up to 150 metres to the blade tip.

However, the report to councillors highlights several areas of concern.

Objections include concerns over landscape and visual impacts, including cumulative impacts overwhelming the landscape and increasing visual clutter and a sense of being surrounded by turbines; impact on tourism, wildlife and on the road network.

Planning officers have recommended that if the Scottish Ministers approve the Pencloe scheme, it should come with a detailed set of conditions.

These include a Construction and Environmental Management Plan, strict controls on traffic management and measures to protect peat, watercourses and local habitats.

Developers would also need to agree restoration and decommissioning plans before work begins.

Councillors on the Planning Committee will consider the recommendations from officials on Friday.