Moray councillors demand answers from Scottish Government after wall of silence over controversial Cabrach wind farm plans
Councillors are to demand more answers concerning controversial plans to build a Moray onshore wind farm.
Moray councillors voted today (March 11) to formally request answers from the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU) in response to growing concerns about the potential impact of the proposed Clashindarroch Extension Wind Farm.
It is around 18 months since the council sent a response to the ECU listing a number of concerns, with the lack of response leaving residents in the nearby community of The Cabrach - where the development is largely opposed - in a state of limbo.
The motion to demand answers of the ECU was put forward by Speyside-Glenlivet SNP councillor Juli Harris at the Planning and Regulatory Services Committee’ It has requested that the Head of Economic Growth and Development write to the ECU.
The letter will seek an update on the local authority’s growing concerns regarding the application and request a timeline for a substantive response to the material concerns they tendered.
Councillor Harris told the meeting: "In June 2023, this committee decided not to lodge a formal objection to the Clashindarroch Wind Farm Extension but raised significant concerns regarding the proposals and asked that a number of conditions be added, should consent be granted.
“Those who reside and work in the Cabrach are also awaiting the decision on a development that will have a significant impact on their community.”
Jonathan Christie, Chief Executive of The Cabrach Trust, added: “We are pleased with today’s result which aligns with growing concern, from multiple quarters, about the proposed Clashindarroch Extension Wind Farm development.
“It was good to see councillors from across the room, and across the political divide, supporting the motion.
“Our community has been kept in the dark for far too long. Further compounding our concern, the same landowner is now preparing to submit a full application to the ECU for their 68 turbine Dorenell "extension" wind farm - a mere mile away from their Clashindarroch extension, which represents a seismic shift in context which the ECU must consider.
“Hopefully this sends a clear signal to the ECU, and Ministers, that great care is needed in The Cabrach to balance green economy developments alongside, not against, rural community regeneration.”
The proposal for Clashindarroch Wind Farm Extension, which consists of 21 wind turbines with a blade tip height of 196 metres, is located within a tactical training area for RAF Lossiemouth. It is being developed by Canadian energy giant Boralex.
In June 2023 Moray Council controversially chose not to lodge an objection, citing the anticipated costs of a public inquiry and a low likelihood of success. Instead, the council raised around 20 material issues and asked for a number of conditions to be added if consent was granted.
It is currently with Scottish Government Ministers via the ECU and has yet to reach a conclusion.
In the area there are already 77 operational turbines and a further 21 consented, across four wind farms within a within a 10km radius of The Cabrach. As well as Clashindarroch Extension, there is a further application for 11 turbines at Craig Watch, plus two scoping applications for a further 85 turbines.
