Wind Farm plans rejected over airport concerns
25.10.08
Plans to build 85 wind turbines in East Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway have been rejected on safety grounds. The Government said the Kyle wind farm would have detrimental effects on safety at Prestwick Airport and the surrounding landscape. Ministers have invited Amec Project Investments to resubmit plans with better shielding to reduce radar and landscape impacts.
The 85 turbines would have a generating capacity of 255MW. While the majority of turbines would have been built in East Ayrshire, the wind farm would also have extended into Dumfries and Galloway, and the controversial proposal prompted more than 4200 objections.
Energy Minister Jim Mather said: ‘The Reporter concluded that the wind farm would be inconsistent with the East Ayrshire Development Plan because of the effects on air safety at Prestwick Airport and the impact on the landscape. While I am not bound to accept the Reporter's recommendation, I have decided to do so.'
‘As our record of approving 14 renewable projects shows, we want to approve good projects, in the right places, with benefits for communities and in harmony with the environment. We have therefore invited the applicant to come forward with a new application, with better shielding to reduce radar and landscape impacts.’
A spokesman for Vattenfall, which has acquired Amec's wind development portfolio, said: ‘We intend to work co-operatively with the Scottish Government and local stakeholders and community to consider an alternative proposal.’
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