Background
Over the last few years RES has been exploring the potential for a wind farm at Cairnmore Hill, approximately 4.5 km west of Thurso.
Cairnmore Hill offers excellent potential for a wind farm development. It has good wind resource, few ecological constraints, straight-forward access off the A836 public road and is close to Scrabster harbour for turbine deliveries. Importantly, it also lies in an area identified by Highland Council as having ‘potential for wind farm development’ and within an area that the Caithness and Sutherland Local Development Plan seeks to promote as an internationally renowned centre for renewable energy and area for energy business expansion. It also lies outwith any nature conservation, landscape or cultural designations.
We have undertaken extensive survey work and environmental studies in order to build a thorough understanding of the site and a wealth of data has been gathered, providing a rigorous dataset to help develop the design. This information, together with feedback from the local community and key consultees, has played an important part in the design development process over the years.
A 10-turbine scheme was originally developed and then later reduced to 8-turbines. The project received positive feedback from the public at the 2016 and 2019 public exhibition events held in Forss and Thurso. However, in March 2021, the scheme was refused by The Highland Council.
Following further technical analysis, we explored an optimised design - taking the concerns previously raised into consideration – and in August 2022, after further community consultation, RES submitted a Scoping Report to The Highland Council, as well as other consultees (including local Community Councils), for a 5-turbine redesigned scheme.
New onshore wind and large scale solar are now the cheapest forms of electricity generation, making onshore wind developments not only beneficial for the environment but also for consumers. With the recent COP26 event in Glasgow, there has never been a greater need for projects like Cairnmore Hill to help support Scotland’s longer-term goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2045 and to support a ‘green recovery’ within the region.
Redesigning the proposal
A 10-turbine scheme was originally developed and then later reduced to 8-turbines. The project received positive feedback from the public at the 2016 and 2019 public exhibition events held in Forss and Thurso. However, in March 2021, the scheme was refused by The Highland Council.
Following further technical analysis, we explored an optimised design - taking the concerns previously raised into consideration and in August 2022 after further community consultation. RES submitted a planning application to The Highland Council for a more compact 5-turbine scheme.
This revised scheme was capable of generating clean, low cost renewable electricity for around 28,000 homes and offsetting approximately 23,736 tonnes of carbon emissions compared to the use of fossil fuels. It also included measures to enrich key habitats across the site and achieve a 16% biodiversity net gain. In addition, it was predicted to deliver around £1.4 million of inward investment to the local area and £8.75 million in business rates to the Council - in addition to a tailored community benefit package for the local area.
Planning determination
In January 2025, The Highland Council refused the revised 5-turbine proposal under delegated powers.
Euan Hogg, RES Development Project Manager, explained: “We carefully considered the Council’s feedback on our previous 8-turbine proposal and significantly reduced the scheme in response to this, so we’re naturally disappointed by the refusal – particularly given the importance of projects like Cairnmore Hill amidst the climate change emergency we are facing.
“This project could deliver significant inward investment to the area in addition to playing an important part in helping meet Scotland’s net zero carbon targets. Community support for the project has also been shown with over 200 support letters submitted into planning. We will now take time to review the Council’s decision and consider our options for the site.”