Three wind turbines at Site To The East Of Chapelton Farm, Drumblade, Huntly

The site and surroundings

The 152.7-hectare hillside site includes woodland, agricultural land, farm hubs and tracks, beside an existing 21-turbine wind farm.

“The site has a total area of approximately 152.7 hectares, with 3.77 hectares to be developed and contains 107.4 hectares of woodland and 42.7 hectares of agricultural land with the remaining land being an existing access which is proposed to be extended to connect with the A96.”

“The existing wind farm to the east contains a segment of woodland but is otherwise agricultural land. Beyond the immediately adjacent uses, there are 7 additional dwellinghouses/farm hubs within 1 km of the site. The Foundland Local Nature Conservation Site (LNCS) buffer is located 160 m south of the main site, with a part of the existing site access running through it, and the Bisset Moss LNCS buffer strip is located 420 m to the east of the site.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

Earlier decisions covered a temporary meteorological mast, environmental-impact screening, and an extended consent for the neighbouring 21-turbine wind farm.

“Relevant Planning History 2.6 APP/2024/0761- Temporary planning permission was granted for the erection of a 90m tall meteorological mast. That permission expires on 27 June 2029. ENQ/2022/1738- An EIA Screening Opinion Request was submitted for this proposal. It was determined that the proposal was not likely to have a significant environmental impact which could not be mitigated and therefore does not constitute an EIA development under the terms of EIA regulations.”

Officer report

Officers’ assessment

Officers found the location, layout and design acceptable, with conditions and a legal agreement addressing noise, landscape, ecology, woodland, access and other impacts.

“The key planning considerations are the principle of the proposal at this location; the layout, siting and design of the development; the ability for the site to be adequately serviced; and the potential impacts on protected species, natural habitats, trees and woodland, the landscape, water supplies, aviation, noise levels, shadow flicker, and the character of the area.”

“As this area already has a strong presence of wind generation equipment, this proposal would not have a significant negative impact on the existing character and has an appropriate layout, siting and design in compliance with Policy 14 and 29 of NPF4 and Policy P1 and C2 of ALDP.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Council services and external consultees removed objections or raised no objections after information and mitigation were provided, subject to conditions.

“Environment and Infrastructure Services (Roads Development) has no objections to the proposal, subject to conditions requiring all construction traffic to use the proposed access from A96, the paving of the first 10m of access, and the formation of visibility splays.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant’s representative asked for approval, citing farmer income, renewable energy, employment, possible community ownership and a community benefit fund.

Members’ questions

Members asked about keeping North Braehead unoccupied, measuring cumulative impact, archaeological discoveries and protecting water supplies.

“Members asked questions in relation to North Braehead being kept unoccupied, measurement of cumulative impact, and dealing with any archaeological finds or impacts on water supplies.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee agreed delegated approval, subject to a Section 75 agreement keeping North Braehead unoccupied for the permission’s duration and the listed conditions.

“Thereafter, the Committee agreed that authority to GRANT full planning permission be delegated to the Head of Planning and Economy subject to the finalisation of a Section 75 agreement to ensure the dwellinghouse known as North Braehead remained unoccupied for the duration of the permission, and subject to the following conditions:”

Minutes