Hoy Planning Application Called in by Scottish Government

The Scottish Government has called in the ‘Orkney’s Community Wind Farm Project – Hoy’ planning application for determination.

This means that Scottish Ministers will now be responsible for making the final decision on whether or not to grant planning permission for the project.

The move follows us writing to the Scottish Government to request that they consider calling in the application - principally based on the potential national significance of the project.

The planning application is for a six-turbine wind farm development at Wee Fea in Hoy and is one part of Orkney's Community Wind Farm Project, which could also see council-owned wind farm developments Quanterness and on Faray.

The Quanterness planning application was also called in in March this year – and we expect the Reporter to be making a recommendation to Scottish Ministers in early February next year.

Full documentation for the proposal has been published on the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) website - www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk

When you go to the site, enter CIN-ORK-002 in the ‘Search by case reference:’ box to find all documents relating to this case.

You can also access copies of the documents at a cost of £1,250.00 (including printing and distribution) for a paper copy or £15.00 for an a USB for PDF screen viewing by emailing sweyn.johnston@orkney.gov.uk

If you want to write a letter of support for the project or object to the project you should do that by January 31 2021 (quoting reference CIN-ORK-002) to:

The Planning and Environmental Appeals Division, Scottish Government, Ground Floor, Hadrian House, Callendar Business Park, Callendar Road, Falkirk FK1 1XR or by e-mail to: jayne.anderson@gov.scot

Remember, that if you submitted your views to us during the pre-application consultation period this was to us as the applicant, NOT the planning authority. If you to make your views known to the decision makers you should follow the instructions above.