A key planning blueprint appears to have closed the door on future large-scale windfarm developments in Angus.
The long-awaited strategic landscape capacity assessment for wind energy in Angus was commissioned to assist the decision-making process over wind energy development proposals and planning applications.
In a statement already welcomed by anti-windfarm campaigners, the assessment has determined that “there are no areas of Angus with an underlying capacity for extensive windfarms with large-scale turbines”.
Stretching to almost 200 pages, the report (PDF link) was drawn up by consultants Ironside Farrar after being commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage in conjunction with Angus and Aberdeenshire councils.
The consultants term turbines of more than 80 metres in height as large.
Angus has only one operational large-scale windfarm, comprising eight 81m turbines, at Ark Hill, near Glamis.
Earlier this week, Scottish Government reporters cleared the way for a six-turbine scheme at Govals Farm, adjacent to the A90 between Forfar and Dundee, but dismissed an appeal over a five-turbine plan for Dodd Hill, north of Tealing.
There are 116 turbines operational or consented in Angus more than 15 metres high. The environmental consultants deem the “dramatically presented” definition between highland and lowland as a key factor affecting larger schemes.
Ray Gibson of Angus Communities Windfarm Action Group welcomed the statement in relation to large-scale turbines, but said the group remained “seriously concerned” about small cluster and single turbine development across the county.