Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
Renewable Energy
5.3.4 The ELSP policies on renewable energy were prepared in the context of National Planning
Policy Guideline 6 (NPPG 6) Renewable Energy (revised 2000). NPPG 6 was replaced by
Scottish Planning Policy 6 (SPP 6) Renewable Energy 2007 (2007) and its subsequent
replacement Scottish Planning Policy (2010).
5.3.5 ELSP Policy ENV6: Renewable Energy provides that “development of renewable energy
resources will be supported where this can be achieved in an environmentally acceptable
manner.” It states that “local plans should set out the specific criteria against which
renewable energy developments will be assessed.”
5.3.6 WLLP Policy NWR20 complements ELSP Policy ENV6 and provides that “the council
supports the development of renewable energy schemes provided that the schemes are
environmentally acceptable and the criteria set out in [the WLLP] can be met.” Those criteria
specific to renewable energy developments are set out in Policies NWR21 to NWR29 and are
discussed below on a policy subject basis.
Site Specific
5.3.7 The site of the proposed wind farm lies within countryside as defined in the WLLP. The
ELSP seeks to strike a balance between protecting the character of the countryside from
development pressures whilst allowing some appropriate development.
5.3.8 ELSP Policy ENV3: Development in the Countryside provides that “development in the
countryside will be allowed where it has an operational requirement for such a location that
cannot be met [elsewhere] and is compatible with the rural character of the area.”
5.3.9 WLLP Policy NWR29 identifies the preferred areas for wind farm developments in West
Lothian. The site of the proposed wind farm lies outwith a preferred area, the nearest
preferred area being located within the Woodmuir Plantation and Pates Hill forestry plantation
to the south of Breich and west of the Addiewell to Cobbinshaw Road.
Landscape and Visual
5.3.10 The site of the proposed wind farm is located partly within the Pentland Hills Area of Great
Landscape Value (AGLV) and adjacent to the western boundary of the Pentland Hills
Regional Park. Both the ELSP and the WLLP seek to protect these regional and local
designations and their setting. The WLLP also seeks to ensure that developments do not
result in unacceptable visual impact from important local viewpoints or road corridors.
5.3.11 ELSP Policy ENV1D: Regional and Local Natural and Built Environment Interests
provides that development affecting Conservation Areas, AGLV and the Pentland Hills
Regional Park or their settings will only be permitted where the objectives and overall integrity
of the designated area will not be compromised or the social or economic benefits to be
gained from the proposed development outweigh the interest of the site.
5.3.12 WLLP Policy NWR22 provides that “the council will resist any proposal for renewable energy
development that will affect the character [or] visual integrity ... of both the Pentland Hills
Regional Park and the wider area of the Pentland Hills in West Lothian.”
5.3.13 WLLP Policy NWR27 provides that “the council will resist windfarm developments that will
give rise to unacceptable cumulative effects”. It presumes against any development that
March 2013 5-6 ES Chapter 5
Planning Policy Overview
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