THE HIGHLAND COUNCIL CAITHNESS, SUTHERLAND and EASTER ROSS PLANNING APPLICATIONS and REVIEW COMMITTEE – 12 May 2009 Report By
THE HIGHLAND COUNCIL Agenda Item CAITHNESS, SUTHERLAND AND EASTER ROSS PLANNING Report No APPLICATIONS AND REVIEW COMMITTEE – 12 May 2009 Erection of 5 wind turbines, 60m high to hub, formation of access roads and associated infrastructure, construction compound and electrical control building (in detail) and formation of visitor centre comprising of fishing lochan with enclosed crannog style centre, archaeological trail and woodland walk (in outline) at land to the north of Broubster Cottage, West Shebster, Thurso, Caithness. Application number 05/00594/FULCA Report by Head of Planning and Building Standards SUMMARY The proposals consist of a detailed application to erect a wind farm comprising of 5 wind turbines on land to the north of Broubster Cottage, West Shebster, Thurso, and an outline proposal for a visitor centre. The proposed wind turbines have a tower height of 60 metres and total height of 100 metres to the rotor tip with a blade diameter of 80 metres. The maximum total output of the 5 turbines is 10 megawatts. Permission is sought for an operational period of 25 years. The wind farm site access will be from the Shebster to Broubster (U204) minor road and then by an existing track to the site The nearest houses to turbines are Roadside Cottage (833m), properties at Mackay Terrace, Shebster (830m) and Broubster Cottage (1.0km), The site lies within 1.75km of Sites of International Importance (Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA), Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Ramsar site) for supporting one of the largest and most intact areas of blanket bog in the world and by supporting a number of rare plants and animals and internationally important populations of birds such as hen harrier, merlin, dunlin and greylag geese during the breeding season.
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