The Scottish Government has called in the ‘Orkney’s Community Wind Farm Project – Hoy’ planning application for determination.
The planning application is for a six-turbine wind farm development at Wee Fea in Hoy and is one part of Orkney's Community Wind Farm Project, which could also see council-owned wind farm developments Quanterness and on Faray.
The Quanterness planning application was also called in in March this year.
Scottish Ministers will now be responsible for making the final decision on whether or not to grant planning permission for the two projects.
The move follows the Council writing to the Scottish Government to request that they consider calling in the application - principally based on the potential national significance of the project.
The project is considered to be of national significance because of the potential for a direct influence on a new subsea interconnector between Orkney and the Scottish Mainland which has been identified in the National Planning Framework 3 (NPF3) as a National Development.
A new interconnector would make a significant contribution in meeting national net-zero carbon emissions targets and would follow on from the Scottish Government and local authorities across Scotland (including Orkney Islands Council) declaring a Climate Emergency.
In September 2019, the electricity market regulator, Ofgem, published its final decision on the needs case for the new interconnector, setting out that planning permission for 135MW of new generation was required and that this would require to be signed up to a grid connection agreement, and pass a financial audit before the end of 2021 in order to trigger the interconnector.
Full documentation for the proposal has been published on the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) website.
On accessing the website, enter the case reference CIN-ORK-002 in the ‘Search by case reference’ box to find all documents relating to this case.
Copies of the EIA report may be purchased from Development and Infrastructure, Orkney Islands Council, Town House, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AA at a cost of £1,250.00 (including printing and distribution) for a paper copy, or £15.00 for a USB for PDF screen viewing and can be arranged by emailing Sweyn Johnston
Any person who wishes to make representations to Scottish Ministers should make them in writing by 31 January 2021 (quoting reference CIN-ORK-002) to:
The Planning and Environmental Appeals Division, Scottish Government, Ground Floor, Hadrian House, Callendar Business Park, Callendar Road, Falkirk FK1 1XR or by e-mail to: Jayne Anderson
A planning application for the Faray project is due to be submitted early next year.
The Council will also request that Scottish Ministers call in the planning application for the Faray project.
Further information on the Faray project is available here
Further information on the wider project is available here, on the Orkney’s Community Wind Farm Project Facebook page and on the project blog.
