Community fears right to inquiry for Skye's biggest wind farm could be dropped over planning delays
The wind farm would see 33 turbines at 200m high near Dunvegan.
Community members fear the option to have a public inquiry for Skye’s biggest wind farm will be taken away from them amid concern over delays to planning decisions.
Developer Muirhall Energy hopes to build 33 turbines at 200m between Portree and Dunvegan on the Inner Hebridean island.
The plans submitted for the wind farm earlier this year, known as Glen Ullinish II (GU II), were a revised version of the company’s initial proposals in 2023. The former proposal included 47 turbines, which the Highland Council objected to.
Since the amendments were made, the council has been given an extended deadline by the Energy Consents Unit (ECU) for 14 December to confirm its position.
However, council officials confirmed GU II is not on the agenda of the committee’s last planning meeting of the year next week.
Members of the Skye Wind Farm Information Group (SWIG) said they are concerned the council’s failure to make a decision by the deadline will risk them losing out on a public inquiry on the wind farm.
A public inquiry for energy developments is triggered automatically when the relevant planning authority formally objects to the development.
Andrew Robinson, spokesperson for SWIG, said residents on the island have previously missed out on an inquiry into Skye’s grid network upgrade works because the council’s objection was late.
Speaking to The Scotsman, he said: “We have seen this happen before with the Skye overhead line.
“The reason the ECU gave us as to why the council’s objection was refused was because it was late.
“If the council chooses to object GU II and they miss this deadline, it could jeopardise the right to a public inquiry if that objection is late.”
Some islanders are pushing back against the plans because GU II will be the biggest yet on the island and could set a precedent for future developments.
Residents have also raised concern about the cumulative impact on the island, saying the works would lead to “the industrialisation of the north of Skye.”
Muirhall Energy is proposing to construct a new quay on the eastern shoreline of Loch Caroy, about 7km to the south east of Dunvegan, to help bring wind farm parts to the island.
A previous inquiry into a separate wind farm on the island heard turbine blades were too big to be transported by road.
The Scotsman has been told the council’s objection to the initial GU II plans remains upheld, unless planning officials withdraw their decision.
A spokesperson for the authority body, however, said a decision on whether that will happen or not “will be made in due course.”
A council spokesperson said: “The council raised an objection against the application for GU II wind farm with the Scottish Ministers on 14 August 2024, which remains the council’s position.
“The applicant then submitted an amended scheme to the Scottish Ministers in June 2025, which council officers are reviewing.
“Our officer recommendation on the amended scheme will be presented to our North Planning Applications Committee in due course, following which the committee’s decision on whether to continue to raise an objection or amend the council’s response to raise no objection against the application will be issued to the Scottish Ministers.”
The concerns come as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, currently making it’s way through the UK Parliament, includes provisions which would replace the current mandatory public inquiry requirement.
Scottish Ministers would instead appoint a reporter to examine applications and consider both the objection and reporter's findings before determining consent.
Members of SWIG warned further delays to a decision on GU II could see the development miss out on the need for an inquiry altogether.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said the requirement for mandatory public inquiries “can become a significant source of delay to applications often adding years to the consenting process.”
They said the proposed changes to the Bill would still give reporters the option to recommend a full public inquiry where appropriate.
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