13. CONSULTATION ON APPLICATION FOR HARROWS LAW WINDFARM, DUNSYRE, SOUTH

The Council Executive considered a report (copies of which had been circulated) by the Development Management Manager to advise members of the proposed objections to a planning application consultation received from Council for an application located close to West Lothian Council’s administrative boundary.

The Development Management Manager advised that planning permission was being sought by South Lanarkshire Council for the erection of seventeen 115m high wind turbines, two 73m wind monitoring masts, access tracks and a sub station and building, two borrow pits and associated works at Harrows Law, Dunsyre, South Lanarkshire.

The report then summarised the West Lothian Council planning policies that raised concerns with regards to the application and included the West Lothian Local Plan, and Lothian Structure Plan and National Planning Policy.

Concerns were also detailed in the report with regards to natural heritage and biodiversity of the area for the proposed wind farm as well as transportation and rights of way issues.

The Development Management Manager concluded that there would be a significant negative impact, both physically and visually as well as potentially economically in terms of tourism on important landscape designations in West Lothian should the application be approved.

It was recommended that the Council Executive approve the submission of an objection to South Lanarkshire Council in relation to a planning application at Harrows Law Wind farm.

Decision

To approve the terms of the report.