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Planning submission

In August 2022, RES submitted a planning application to The Highland Council for a 5-turbine redesign of its Cairnmore Hill Wind Farm proposal, approximately 4.5 km west of Thurso, in Caithness.

The application and associated documents are available to view both below and on The Highland Council’s planning portal at https://wam.highland.gov.uk/wam/ under application reference number 22/03558/FUL.  Details of how to comment on the application are provided in the ‘Commenting on the proposal’ section below.

Planning Statement (1MB) - Examines the national and local planning policy context for the redesigned proposal for Cairnmore Hill Wind Farm, and the balance which needs to be struck between the need for wind energy development and the effect of the proposed development on the local environment. It also takes account of the benefits which could arise from the construction and operation of the development. Please note that an updated Planning Statement, submitted in February 2023, is available below under the ‘Further information’ section.

Design and Access Statement (5MB) - A short, illustrated report which shows how design considerations have been integral to the proposed development.

Pre-Application Consultation (PAC) Report (3MB) - Explains how and when the community was consulted before the planning application for the redesigned proposal for Cairnmore Hill Wind Farm was submitted to The Highland Council and how RES has responded to questions raised by the community regarding the proposal.

Environmental Impact Assessment Report Volume 1: Non-Technical Summary (3MB) - Summarises the application and contains the key findings from the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) work.

Environmental Impact Assessment Report Volume 2: Main Text (6MB) - This is a lengthy written document which summarises the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) work undertaken. It examines the potential effects of the wind farm upon the environment, wildlife and people and explains how RES will minimise any impacts. The document is separated into topic chapters which include: landscape and visual; ornithology; ecology; archaeology and cultural heritage; hydrology, hydrogeology and geology; traffic and transport; and noise.

Environmental Impact Assessment Report Volume 3a: Figures - The figures (drawings and maps) which support the written chapters of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report:

Environmental Impact Assessment Report Volume 3b Part 1: NatureScot Visualisations - wirelines and photomontages (to NatureScot specifications) which help to give an impression of what the proposal could look like from a number of agreed viewpoints in the area:

Environmental Impact Assessment Report Volume 3b Part 2: The Highland Council Visualisations - wirelines and photomontages (to The Highland Council specifications) which help to give an impression of what the proposal could look like from a number of agreed viewpoints in the area:

Environmental Impact Assessment Report Volume 4: Technical appendices - The data which supports the other volumes of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report:

RES has also placed hard copies of the planning documents in the following locations:
• Wick Service Point, Caithness House, Market Square, Wick, KW1 4AB
• The Highland Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX

In addition, copies of the Non-Technical Summary (NTS) and other planning documents (including the Environmental Impact Assessment Report) are available by contacting RES. 

Further information

Updated Planning Statement (0.5MB) – An updated Planning Statement was submitted by RES in February 2023 in response to changes in the planning policy framework, in particular with relation to the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), the publication of the new Onshore Wind Policy Statement and the Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan. This updated Planning Statement therefore addresses these new policy documents and provides an assessment of the Proposed Development against relevant new policy provisions.

Biodiversity Enhancement Management Plan (BEMP) (3MB) – The Biodiversity Enhancement Management Plan (BEMP) details the proposed habitat and conservation management measures to enhance biodiversity within the site.

Commenting on the proposal

The application and associated documents are available to view both above and on The Highland Council’s planning portal at https://wam.highland.gov.uk/wam/ under the application reference number 22/03558/FUL and in hard copy format at the locations listed above.

A statutory consultation period was held when the application was submitted to enable the public, as well as statutory consultees, to submit their comments on the proposal. Any person who wished to make a representation on the application, could make them in the following ways:

  • Online – by visiting https://wam.highland.gov.uk/wam/
  • In writing – by writing to The Head of Planning and Building Standards, Planning Centre, The Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX.

These representations will then be assessed against the proposal and a determination made by The Highland Council in due course.

The Highland Council's statutory consultation period has now passed. The Council may still accept representations, outwith the consultation period. If so, the Council may acknowledge receipt of comments but is unable to respond individually to points or questions raised. Please note that comments are published online. Please quote the application reference number (22/03558/FUL) in any representation to the Council. More information can be found here on The Highland Council’s website.