A TWENTY-turbine wind farm to be built near Minard will generate enough electricity for more than 25,000 homes in Mid Argyll.
Argyll and Bute councillors unanimously approved planning permission for A’Chruach Wind Farm at a Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee meeting.
David Fitzsimmons, chief executive officer of Novera Energy, the company behind the development, said: ‘This is an excellent result by our wind development team to achieve planning consent so quickly and underlines the emphasis we have placed on consultation with the local community and key stakeholders.’
The wind farm will be constructed on land owned by Forestry Commission Scotland, approximately 5km west-north-west of Minard and 10km north-north-east of Lochgilphead.
Despite the turbines being 110 metres high, the council received only one letter of objection on the grounds it will impact on the landscape.
Richard Kerr, head of Argyll and Bute Council’s planning department, highlighted the benefits of the development to the Advertiser: ‘The wind farm will be three kilometres away from the nearest house and will be difficult to see because of where the land lies.
‘The local economy should also be boosted by construction work and preparation work on the forest road, although that has still to go to tender.’
Two years of initial forestry operations will take place before a 12-month construction period.
It is estimated the wind farm will be completed by 2012.
