Permission for an eleven turbine windfarm at Whiteside Hill in Scotland was agreed on 29th August, at the Nithsdale Regulatory Committee by a unanimous vote within a record two hours.

The permission is subject to the removal of two turbines from the originally proposed thirteen turbine (30 MW) farm, due to visual and landscape effects. The condition was decided between Airtricity and Dumfries and Galloway Council. There were only three objections from consultees, all of which were resolved by conditions. Only a handful of third party objections were received (about fifteen).

Whiteside Hill is located roughly five kilometres south west of Sanquhar, Dumfries and Galloway. The farm will generate electricity for an estimated 14, 000 homes once it has been linked to the National Grid.

RPS project managed the Scoping for the client: Airtricity Developments (UK) Ltd, and through this, were awarded the contract for the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Statement. RPS consultants carried out many of the technical assessments for the project and produced the planning application.

The post submission process involved RPS Senior Environmental Consultant, Lis Norberg working full time from February to the end of August 2007, liaising with a committee of local councillors, residents, suppliers, contractors, solicitors, and PR consultants, as well as the landowner and planning authority to successfully promote the scheme.

Contact:
RPS Glasgow - Planning & Development
T: + 44 (0) 1413 320373