Developers of a major offshore windfarm have been told to play fair with the golfing jewel of Angus.
The Seagreen Firth of Forth project will see up to 75 turbines with a combined 1.05 gigawatt (GW) generating capacity sited between 27 and 38 kilometres off the Angus coast.
Recent days have seen major steps for the scheme with the formal submission of a planning application for the onshore infrastructure associated with the major project.
At the same time, Angus councillors have finalised their detailed response to the proposal, deciding not to make a formal objection to the Seagreen scheme.
But development standards committee members were urged to accept that the massive turbines will be visible from many parts of the Angus coast on a horizon where the iconic Bell Rock light is a current feature, and planners have incorporated in the authority’s response a specific request that landfall works should not interfere with the Carnoustie golf links and the timing of major events, such as the possible return of the Open Championship to the historic venue.
Seagreen is a joint venture partnership between SSE Renewables and Fluor Limited.
Along with the £1.4 billion, 125 turbine Neart na Gaoithe proposal for a site 15.5 kilometres off Fife Ness, the Seagreen scheme is one which Angus has been asked to comment on by Marine Scotland as a statutory consultee.
Councillors heard that although the 200-year-old Bell Rock light is much nearer, it is only around 30 metres tall, so the impact of 200m turbines further away would still be evident.
In respect of the Seagreen bid, Angus planning officials have repeated earlier comments relating to the the Neart na Gaoithe scheme over the night seascape impacts from lighting for shipping and navigation on the turbines.
The Angus response states: “Concerns are held about the significance of the proposals’ visual impacts on Angus.
“However, assuming that a technical solution to the night lighting issue is forthcoming, this would assist in mitigating these effects from being more significant and avoiding potentially unacceptable impacts. “
Turning to the potential landfall implications for grid connection works, the Council response continues: “Barry Buddon and Carnoustie Links are considered to be highly sensitive to disruption for environmental and economic reasons.
“The Carnoustie golf courses are significant recreational assets and the Championship course is world renowned and of significant economic development value to the economy of Angus, not least given its role as an Open Championship venue.
“Any impact on the amenity of the golf courses during formation of the transmission line or the landfall, or indeed any subsequent impact on the golf courses as a consequence of the formation of the onshore grid connection could give rise to significant impacts on the economy of Angus.
“Angus Council would wish the Scottish Government to satisfy itself that Barry Buddon is the most appropriate location for landfall having regard to all relevant environmental impacts, including impacts from the whole development which would include the subsequent onshore grid connectionand would request that any consent that involves works in the vicinity of Barry Buddon/Carnoustie Links should be controlled to avoid any potential conflict with golfing activities and in particular any major golfing tournaments.”
Seagreen said the newly-lodged infrastructure application includes 19km of underground cables from a landfall location at south Carnoustie to the grid connection point at the existing Tealing electricity substation, as well as a new substation there.
Richard Escott, head of offshore development at SSE Renewables, said: “It is great to see another very important milestone achieved with the submission of this onshore consent application for Phase 1.
“As Scotland’s largest renewable energy project, the Firth of Forth Zone has the potential to make a significant contribution to meeting Scotland and the UK’s renewable energy targets.’’
Graham Mason, business development director renewables at Fluor, said: “This application comes after a significant amount of environmental study and detailed consultation with the relevant stakeholders who we will continue to work with as the application progresses.’’