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Planning application documents for Orkney’s Community Wind Farm Project - Faray have now been submitted and the application is now live for public and stakeholder comments.
A press release has been issued and is available here - https://www.orkney.gov.uk/OIC-News/Orkneys-Community-Wind-Farm-Project-Faray-Planning-Application-Documents-Submitted.htm.
Main things to note are:
An Environmental Impact Assessment – which provides detail on the likely effects of the project on the environment - has been produced, which covers both the turbines and the marine infrastructure, however the two elements of the project are subject to separate regulatory processes. A planning application has been submitted to the local planning authority for elements of the project above Mean Low Water Springs (MLWS), i.e. the onshore wind turbines and associated infrastructure above MLWS. At the same time, marine licence applications have been submitted to Marine Scotland’s Marine Licensing Team (MS-LOT) for works below Mean High Water Springs (MHWS), i.e. the installation of improved access to Faray via construction of a new extended slipway and landing jetty.
The full application documents for the onshore elements of the project are available through the Orkney Islands Council website. For more information visit the Planning Application Search and Submission page of the website - https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/D/application_search_submission.htm - read the Disclaimer and Copyright document available in the 'Related Downloads' section and then click on the 'Accept and Search' button. For the ‘Orkney’s Community Wind Farm – Faray’ planning application search for 21/240/TPPMAJ
Comments can be submitted in writing, either by email to planning@orkney.gov.uk, online through the Planning Portal - - https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/D/application_search_submission.htm - or by post to: Development Management, Council Offices, School Place, Kirkwall, KW15 1NY.
The consultation period begins 15 July 2021 and runs for 30 days.
Should the project be called in by the Scottish Government before then, all submissions received by the local planning authority prior to that will be passed directly to the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA), who’ll then take on responsibility for the application.
In line with the Town and Country Planning (Miscellaneous Temporary Modifications) (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, that came into place on the 24th April 2020, and the Marine Works and Marine Licensing (Miscellaneous Temporary Modifications) (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, the Environmental Impact Assessment Report will be available for public inspection online only. However, all documents are available (as a PDF for screen viewing only) on a USB for £15.00 or as a hard copy for £1,600.00 (including printing and distribution), by emailing Sweyn Johnston - sweyn.johnston@orkney.gov.uk - or by phone 01856 852 271.
Comments received during the pre-application consultation period were for the pre-application report only. If you still to wish to support or object to the proposals then you should follow the process above.
As ever, we are available to discuss any queries you may have – just drop us a line by email kirsty.groundwater@orkney.gov.uk or give us a phone on 07818508323