NTS opposes giant offshore wind farm amid threat to views from islands
The development will be visible from island gems including Iona and Staffa.
The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) has objected to plans for one of Scotland’s largest offshore wind farms.
The independent charity said that the development would have a “significant” impact on island communities, wildlife, tourism and the heritage of some of the country’s most celebrated islands.
Plans for MachairPower wind farm include either 91 larger turbines or 144 turbines standing 260 to 280 meters tall off the west coast of Colonsay and northwest of Islay.
The applicated was lodged by developer Scottish Power Renewables, which is owned by Iberdrola, a major multinational electric utility company based in Spain. The company said there remains “ a lot of detail to finalise” in the plans.
While the NTS supports the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, it argued that the £3 billion project was in the wrong location and on too great a scale. The charity said the effects on the landscape and seascape, marine mammals, environment and tourism had not been adequately assessed in the application.
The turbines would be visible from Iona, Staffa and the Treshnish Isles, which are in the care of the NTS.
The charity also raised concerns about the potential impact on birds and the accuracy of the baseline data used to assess the project. It said it had requested more time to scrutinise the information and called on NatureScot, the Scottish Government’s nature agency, to closely examine the potential ornithological effects.
The charity also disputed the applicant’s conclusions about the development’s socio-economic impact, arguing that they were based on an underestimate of its effect on the landscape.
The application concludes that tourism is unlikely to be affected, but the trust said this assessment failed to take account of important viewpoints from Iona, Staffa and the Treshnish Isles.
It said the omission meant that the impact on the character of the landscape had not been properly considered.
The trust said renewable energy projects should be developed at the “right scale” and in the “right location” to limit their effects on communities, heritage and nature.
“For these reasons, the Trust objects to the proposed development,” it said.
Kiera Wilson, of ScottishPower Renewables, said: “MachairWind is a vital green energy project that will deliver more clean power to the grid, strengthen the UK’s energy security and help drive economic growth.
“We believe it will deliver long and lasting economic and social benefits across the islands, west coast of Scotland and beyond and have carried out extensive work to measure this as part of our consent submission.
"There’s still a lot of detail to be finalised in consultation with various stakeholders – including local communities – but that could mean using a local port for marine operations, supporting local businesses to serve the offshore wind industry, and wider skills, training and employment opportunities that will develop as the project takes shape.
“We’ll also be setting up a community benefit fund if the projected is consented, shaped by local people for local people.”
The Scottish Government has set a target of reaching net zero by 2045, with offshore wind expected to make a substantial contribution to expanding renewable electricity generation.
Scottish ministers will make the final decision on whether or not to award offshore planning consent for the wind farm based on a recommendation made by the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate.
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.