The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) has welcomed The Highland Council’s acknowledgement of the National Park’s setting and the impact windfarm developments could have.
The CNPA has submitted a response to The Highland Council’s consultation on its Onshore Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) following approval from the CNPA’s Planning Committee, meeting today (Friday 24 June) in Kingussie.
CNPA Planning Committee Convener Duncan Bryden, said: “We’re pleased The Highland Council has considered the impact on the Cairngorms National Park and are to be congratulated on producing well thought out, considered guidance which a number of bodies have successfully worked on together.”
CNPA Planning Officer, Andrew Tait, said: “The CNPA has concerns about the cumulative impact of a number of wind farm proposals on the setting of the National Park which it is evident The Highland Council shares. While The Highland Council’s Onshore Wind Energy SPG does not cover the National Park, it acknowledges that windfarms built outside the boundary can still have an impact on the landscape and enjoyment of this special place.”
The CNPA is very supportive of green energy schemes that are of an appropriate nature and does not object to all windfarms near the Park as a matter of course.
Andrew Tait added: “We are looking at renewable energy options for the Park which will feed into our own supplementary planning guidance on renewable energy in due course.”