Trust response to Fairburn Wind Farm Extension

The Trust has responded to pre-application consultation on proposals for a new wind farm that would be partially sited in the east of the Central Highlands Wild Land Area. 

The Fairburn Wind Farm Extension is a proposal for 14 turbines each with a blade to tip height of 200m on the Fairburn Estate. Sited 2km south of the existing Fairburn Wind Farm development, approximately 0.8km south of Strathconon, the proposed site is open moorland to the south and east of the Orrin Reservoir. 

The Trust has engaged at this early stage out of concern for impacts to wild land and the knock on repurcussions the proposals, in their current form, would have for the species and habitats the proposed site, and surrounding designated areas for nature, currently provide.

In summary, our comments point out:

1. The proposed design contravenes Scottish Planning Policy intended to protect Wild Land Areas.
2. From the plans, it is not clear if the proposed site overlaps with the Glen Affric to Strathconon Special Protection Area, designated for breeding golden eagle habitats. An overlap would constitute an additional disregard for planning protections and, by extension, a wanton disregard for the biodiversity crisis we face. 
3. With priority peatland habitats on site, we expect the design to avoid impacts to these habitats as well as Class 1 peatlands. Careful design and siting of turbines can avoid releasing carbon from peatlands and prevent unnecessary biodiversity loss.
4. At a 2km distance from the existing development the proposals amount to a new scheme sited in a wild upland area rather than follow the normal, expected pattern of an extension. We query why the turbines are not being proposed closer to the existing scheme.
5. A Wild Land Impact Assessment will be needed without question.
6. Viewpoints within the Central Highlands Wild Land Area are needed as part of the Landscape Visual Impact Assessment if impacts on the Wild Land Area are to be properly evaluated. We endorse Mountaineering Scotland's suggested viewpoints for inclusion in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report.

The Trust's full response at this stage is available to download below.

If you would like to find out more about the proposal you can find the scoping stage documentation on the Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit website.