Vincent Fraser QC’s Scottish Wind Farm Success

Vincent Fraser QC has successfully represented RWE Renewables UK Development Ltd in obtaining consent under the Electricity Act 1989 and deemed planning permission from Scottish Ministers for Strathy Wood Wind Farm in Sutherland following a virtual inquiry. The wind farm comprises 13 turbines of up to 180 metres in height with a generating capacity up to 62.4MW. The major issue raised was the scale of the proposal within the landscape and its relationship to the constructed Strathy North Wind Farm which has turbines of 110 metres in height. Others issues raised included aviation lighting and impact upon wild land areas. It was found that the benefits of the proposal arising from its contribution towards meeting climate change objectives and the restoration of 76ha of peat land or blanket bog previously affected by commercial forestry outweighed the adverse landscape and visual effects of the proposal.

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