Reasons for objecting to the proposed route of the 400kV Overhead Line - please frame in your own words and say what you are asking for (eg refusal, reconsideration of the route, a public inquiry)

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• The pylons will be on a very elevated site making it the the most highly visible local development yet proposed.  They will skyline over a very wide area, dominating the enclosing hills of the scenic coastline of East Sutherland and will be clearly seen from parts of the A9 route.   

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• The impact on the Loch Fleet, Loch Brora and Glen Loth SLA and its' surrounding communities is assessed by the applicant as Major Adverse during construction and Major-moderate Adverse after construction (Applicant document Volume 5 - Appendix 7.4 - Designated Landscape Assessment).  The ridgeline profile will be broken by prominent pylons.  The development will be particularly visible from Helmsdale, through Glen Loth, through Sletdale, from Brora Golf Course, from Brora beach, at Loch Brora and in Strath Fleet and will greatly reduce the scenic enjoyment we all take in our environment.  

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• Little or no attempt has been made to moderate the landscape and visual impacts on the Loch Fleet, Loch Brora and Glen Loth SLA, where the impacts of the alignment will violate all its special qualities including the lengthy access tracks which will permanently damage its uniform moorland cover.   We do not agree with the applicant that effects will be Major-Moderate Adverse after construction, they will be Major Adverse throughout the greater part of the SLA for decades to come.

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• The proposed route goes through the heart of a Special Landscape Area which the community has fought hard to establish and protect as a valued amenity and vital part of the setting in which we live. It is the only designated landscape on the proposed route where the route goes directly through the middle of a designated landscape (Map on page 11 of Applicant's EIA Volume 1: Non-Technical Summary).

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• This development will break the existing local Pattern of Development, recognised by The Highland Council and by previous decisions of the Scottish Government, to contain energy development away from coastal settlements and out of sight of the A9 tourist route.

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• In November 2023 (after the introduction of National Planning Framework 4) the Scottish Government issued a refusal of the Kintradwell Wind Farm planning application. The decision referenced the adverse impacts on the landscape of the Loch Fleet, Loch Brora and Glen Loth SLA as a reason for refusal, the same adverse impacts will arise from the current OHL proposal. Extracts from the Kintradwell decision:

  • "The Scottish Ministers agree with the Reporter’s conclusion that the proposed Development will result in a range of significant landscape and visual effects and give rise to significant adverse effects on the character of landscapes including the Rounded Hills – Caithness & Sutherland Landscape Character Type, the distinctive character of the East Sutherland Coast and the Loch Fleet, Loch Brora and Glen Loth Special Landscape Area."

  • "It is also noted by the Scottish Ministers that in respect of the siting and design of the proposed Development the Reporter states that it is being “on significantly higher ground near other, more sensitive LCTs” that “renders” the proposed Development “unacceptable”. The Scottish Ministers agree with the Reporter’s conclusions on the siting and design of the proposed Development as set out at paragraph 3.33 of the PI Report."

  • "The Scottish Ministers agree with the Reporter’s overall conclusion that the proposed Development would have significant adverse effects on visual amenity."

  • "The Scottish Ministers acknowledge, in accordance with both NPF4 and the OWPS, that meeting our climate ambitions will require a rapid transformation across all sectors of our economy and society, however this does not negate the continuing requirement to ensure that the right development happens in the right place."

  • "Even taking into account the significant support assigned by NPF4 to the proposed Development and its status as national development, the significant adverse landscape and visual effects on the character of landscapes including the Rounded Hills – Caithness & Sutherland Landscape Character Type and the distinctive character of the East Sutherland Coast and the Loch Fleet, Loch Brora and Glen Loth Special Landscape Area ultimately leads the Scottish Ministers to the conclusion that despite the many factors in favour of the proposed Development, this is not the right development in the right place and the proposed Development is therefore not acceptable overall."​

  

• Sections A & B of the proposed OHL alignment breaches policies 57, 61 and 67 of The Highland Wide Local Development Plan (2012) and the development plan overall.  It conflicts with Policy 11 (e)(ii) of NPF4 on the heavy balance of environmental effects and with Schedule 9 of the Electricity Act regarding the preservation of natural beauty.

 

• Within the SLA are significant numbers of archeological sites, ranging from designated to unrecorded, dating back to prehistory. For example, the applicant's own assessment on the effect of the various High Value scheduled monuments at Caen are identified as Major Impact (Applicant documents Volume 5, Chapter 12, Appendix 12.5).

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• Other issues of concern are the many kilometres of new scarring hill tracks, the new proposed accesses from the A9, increased heavy traffic predicted to increase significantly during construction, delays and closures on the A9 during construction delivery and all the various remedial measures now necessary along the delivery route owing to the scale of the pylon parts.

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If you are not sure about writing your own letter, there is a 3rd party objection 'tool' available through the link below. The tool will assist in generating a letter for you, please complete all sections and the Captcha code to ensure that your comments are submitted to the ECU. This tool is run by a 3rd party.

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Spittal to Beauly OHL Object Now Tool

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