On the agenda at the National Park Planning and Access Committee meeting on Monday 24th November, is the National Park Authority’s response to the Giant’s Burn Wind Farm application. The response concludes that the National Park Authority objects to the proposal for the following reasons:

1, Significant change in scale and proximity of windfarm development
to the National Park. The proposal would introduce a windfarm
development of significant scale (up to 200m in height) close to (2.7km
from) the National Park boundary.

2. Significant adverse effects on the Special Landscape Qualities of
the National Park. Such a large-scale wind farm in the open upland
area within the Cowal Hills behind Dunoon will result in significant
adverse effects on the Special Landscape Qualities of the National Park.

3. Significant effects on visual amenity. The wind farm would be a
dominant feature that would have a significant adverse impact upon the
open views and visual amenity for residents, visitors and recreational
users in the southwestern area of the National Park.

4. Significant effects on landscape character. The windfarm will have
significant adverse effects on the landscape character of the Steep
Ridgeland and the adjacent Mountains Glens Landscape (Landscape
Character Type 4) covering Strath Eachaig, Kilmun, Strone, and
southern edge of Loch Eck.

5. The proposal is contrary to National Planning Framework 4, Policy
4 Natural Places part c). The location, scale, type and proximity of the
windfarm to the National Park boundary will compromise the objectives
and integrity of the designation and the significant adverse effects are
not outweighed by any social, environmental or economic benefits of
national importance.

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE