Plans submitted for a dozen 200m-tall wind turbines outside Oban

Plans have been submitted for 12 wind turbines with a maximum tip height of 200 metres to be situated outside Oban.

Argyll and Bute Council has received a section 36 planning application from the Scottish Government for the facility on land 2km northeast of Kilmore and 5km east of Oban town centre.

The proposal for Corr Chnoc Wind Farm also includes a battery energy storage system (BESS), with the planned site extending to 728 hectares.

Council officers are expected to give feedback by early February, and plans are now available for the public to view.

A planning and energy policy statement by Savills said: “The proposed development will comprise the construction, 50-year operation and subsequent decommissioning of up to 12 wind turbines, BESS and associated infrastructure, with an overall generating capacity in excess of 50 megawatts.

“The proposed wind turbines will have a maximum blade tip height of 200m, with the final specification and choice of turbine supplier to be confirmed following a selection process prior to construction.

“The proposed development will connect to the national electricity grid network at the Creag Dhubh substation, a connection date has been secured for October 2034. The connection to the substation will be subject to a future and separate application for consent.”

The statement added: “The proposed development comprises both renewable energy generation and biodiversity enhancement proposals, which will contribute directly to these twin objectives.

“A suite of socio-economic measures is also propose,d including the offer of community ownership of up to 10% of the proposed development and the introduction of a renewable energy discount scheme for local properties within approximately 4km of the proposed development, to provide a discount on their electricity use.

“These measures, alongside proposals to maximise opportunities for local contractors and supply chain benefits, will ensure the proposed development maximises socio-economic benefits during the construction and operational periods.

“It is important to recognise that the proposed development benefits from national development status in [National Planning Framework 4], meaning that this type and scale of development is considered by the Scottish Government to be ‘of national importance’ and necessary to help deliver the national spatial strategy.

“Taking account of these various matters, it is considered that the proposed development is the right development in the right place, and it is therefore respectfully requested that S36 consent and deemed planning permission is granted.”