The owners of Bandirran Estate have warned that the creation of a windfarm could be the difference between growth and an uncertain financial future.
The family-owned estate hopes that its partnership with Banks Renewables will result in the erection of six giant turbines near Balbeggie in Perthshire.
Proposals are currently before Perth and Kinross Council and officers will bring a report to elected members later this year.
The project will have to overcome significant opposition if it is to go ahead, with local community councils likely to object and a Save our Sidlaws (SoS) campaign set up to fight the plans.
In addition, Perth and Kinross Council has yet to green-light a single windfarm proposal, with appeals to the Scottish Government responsible for every one currently operating or in development.
Nonetheless, the manager of the 5,000 acre estate is urging the local authority to give careful consideration to the windfarm.
Brian Kaye told The Courier that the development of the Bandirran “Community Partnership” windfarm could enable significant investment to be made in the estate, creating jobs and helping bring prosperity to surrounding communities.
He said that fragility in the farming sector had forced the estate to look for new ways to diversify its income and that after lengthy consideration, including identifying a suitable development partner, it had been decided that a windfarm was the most sustainable option.
“The development of a windfarm at Bandirran is vital to the estate’s long term sustainability,” Mr Kaye said.
“It would put us in a completely different economic position, enabling us to embark on significant and long-term investment on the estate itself, including buildings, landscape and environmental improvement and business initiatives.
“These local projects and initiatives will in turn support local families by using local companies, employing local labour and bringing money into the local economy.”
The estate has identified a programme of work should the windfarm get the go-ahead and includes upgrading roads and refurbishing a number of estate properties.
Banks Renewables submitted a planning application for the Bandirran project in January following an extensive consultation process.
Community councils continue to study the proposals, which are contained within a document submitted to Perth and Kinross Council.
Resident Martin Payne, who has been studying the issue for Burrelton and District Community Council, said last month he was unconvinced the plan would find favour with locals or the council.
Nonetheless, Banks Renewables’ development director Colin Anderson said: “We are absolutely committed to working with the estate and local people to create a wind farm that makes the widest positive contribution in terms of the community, environment and local economy.”
Further information on the proposed Bandirran windfarm can be found online at www.banksgroup.co.uk/bandirran.