The Applicant holds a secure grid connection offer for the delivery of up to 70 MW installed export capacity in association with the proposed development with a connection date of 2027.

The Applicant originally submitted an application, supported by an Environmental Impact assessment Report (EIA Report), for consent pursuant to Section 36 of the Electricity Act 19891 (ECU00003335) and deemed planning permission under s.57(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended) to install and operate the proposed wind farm. 

The original application was made in 2021 comprised 12 wind turbines and associated infrastructure for an operational lifetime of 30 years.

Following the submission of the EIA Report, and upon receipt of the consultation responses, the Applicant took the decision to remove turbines T1 and T2 from the proposed scheme, along with moving the position of turbine T6 160m southwest of its original location  ‘the Amended Development (2023)’.  In response to specific points raised by consultees during the consultation process, and to provide an assessment of effects arising from the amended project design a Further Environmental Information Report Update was prepared and submitted in February 2024.

In June 2024, the Highland Council North Planning Applications Committee issued a recommendation to object to the proposal, triggering a Public Local Inquiry and transfer of the application from the Energy Consents Unit (‘ECU’) to the Scottish Government Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (‘DPEA’ Ref. WIN-270-23).

Further amendment has subsequently been made to the scheme including the following:

• Removal of T6 and associated hardstanding from the scheme;
• Realignment of the proposed crossing of the River Thurso (32m downstream of the extant pipe-bridge);
• Realignment of access tracks to accommodate the aforementioned changes.

Additional assessment has been undertaken to inform and assess the potential for impacts of the revised scheme.  All of the submission documentation can be viewed on the DPEA website.

The full suite of submission documents can also be found here.

Details of the public consultation process are provided in the published public notice.  Members of the public can make representations to the DPEA not later than 09 August 2025.