Two landscape sensitivity appraisals are currently being consulted on: one for the Caithness study area and another covering The Black Isle, surrounding hills and Moray Firth Coast. They are the next two in a programme of appraisals for areas in Highland that are under pressure for wind energy development.
Consultation on the two appraisals began on 25 November, following the Council's adoption of its Onshore Wind Energy Supplementary Guidance.
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David Cowie, a Principal Planner in the Council's Development Plans Team, said: "The adopted Supplementary Guidance includes the outputs of the landscape sensitivity appraisal that we undertook for the Loch Ness area. We intend that once the two appraisals that we are now inviting comments on have been finalised, they will be added to and likewise be part of the Onshore Wind Energy Supplementary Guidance.
"As with the Loch Ness study, the draft appraisals set out key aspects for each study area that we would take into consideration when managing planning applications for all scales of onshore wind energy development. It would be a guide that provides context for the detailed assessment of individual proposals, provides general advice on the likely form of development appropriate in different areas and would help us to identify scope for development."
(MH/CD)
