Trust response to Bunloinn wind farm application

After closer examination of the proposed development, which was prompted by a Trust member, on 13 October 2022 the Trust submitted an objection to the Bunloinn Wind Farm and battery storage proposal.

The Trust's objection is grounded in concerns about the loss of wild qualities of the nearby Wild Land Areas: the Central Highlands Wild Land Area and the Kinlochhourn – Knoydart – Morar Wild Land Area, which the proposed development would stand between.

In our response we state support for NatureScot's submission that the position between these Wild Land Areas would result in a loss of visual connectivity between them. In their advice, NatureScot note 'There is a symbiotic experiential quality to the interaction of these WLAs in this location given their contiguous relationship, which is made reference to in the descriptions for both WLAs. The introduction of the proposal into an area where this relationship is well expressed would result in a two-fold effect, causing attrition to the experience of not just one WLA but both, when experiencing one from the other and vice versa.'

Another concern and reason for deciding to object is a concern about the pattern in the spread of wind energy westwards, towards and potentially into, the top 10% of Scotland's wildest places.

We are grateful to the Trust member who got in touch to voice their concerns about this proposal. 

Our full response is available to download below.

UPDATES: on 10 January 2023 the John Muir Trust submitted further comments on this application with reference to the revised draft NPF4. You can find our further comments available to download below.

On 28 March 2024 Scottish Ministers gave their consent for Bunloinn Wind Farm (10 turbines up to 230m to blade tip and 5MW battery electricity storage system).