Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the North Planning Applications Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Tuesday, 18 October 2022 at 10.30 am. 

You are invited to attend and a note of the business to be considered is attached. 

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter. 

Members are reminded that during determination of any item before this Committee they must be present throughout the whole of that item in order to be entitled to participate. 

Members are further reminded that mobile devices, including mobile phones, can be used for following the agenda/reports and delivering speeches but should not be used for any form of communication (text or tweet) during the meeting. 

Yours faithfully 

Karen Lyons, Principal Solicitor – Planning 
(for Head of Corporate Governance)

1. Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting.  Any Member making a declaration of interest should provide some information on the nature of the interest and leave the meeting at the appropriate time.  Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3. Confirmation of Minutes    
Dearbhadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais

There are submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of Meeting of the North Planning Applications Committee held on 27 September 2022.

4. Major Development Update    
Iarrtasan Mòra

There is circulated Report No PLN/073/22 by the Area Planning Manager - North which, provides a summary of all cases within the “Major” development category currently with the Planning and Development Service for determination and identifies those proposed applications which have Proposal of Application Notice (PAN). The report also details progress on proposals submitted under S36 or S37 of the Electricity Act 1989 on which the Council is consulted.

The Committee is invited to note the current position of these applications.

5. Major Developments – Pre-application consultations    
Leasachaidhean Mòra – Co-chomhairle Ro-iarrtais

5.1 
Description: Balmeanach Wind Farm – Erection and operation of a wind farm comprising up to 10 wind turbines with blade tip heights of up to 149.9m and associated infrastructure.(22/04095/PAN) (PLN/074/22)
Ward: 10 – Eilean A’ Cheò
Applicant: Balmeanach Wind Farm Limited
Site Address: Land 2400M NE Of An Cleireach, 8 Balmeanach, Struan, Isle of Skye

5.2 
Description: Construction of alternative access for Strathy South Wind Farm
(22/04160/PAN) (PLN/075/22)
Ward: 01-North, West and Central Sutherland
Applicant: SSE Renewables
Site Address: Land at Strathy South, Strathy Forest, Strathy

5.3 
Description: Erection and operation of a hydrogen electrolyser plant and associated infrastructure (22/04169/PAN) (PLN/076/22)
Ward: 04 - East Sutherland and Edderton
Applicant: Scottish Power Energy Retail Ltd
Site Address: Land 2480M East of Beinn Tharsuinn Windfarm, Edderton
    
5.4  
Description: Erection and operation of a hydrogen electrolyser plant and associated infrastructure (22/04329/PAN) (PLN/077/22)
Ward: 04 – East Sutherland and Edderton
Applicant: SSE Generation

Site Address: Gordonbush Wind Farm, by Moulin Cottage, Brora, KW9 6LX

6. Planning Applications to be Determined    
Iarrtasan Dealbhaidh rin Dearbhadh

There are circulated Reports Nos PLN/078/22 to PLN/085/22 by Area Planning Manager - North which are as follows:-

6.1 
Applicant: Ms Klara Pehalova (22/00459/FUL) (PLN/078/22)
Location: Land 50M East Of 18 Roag, Dunvegan, Isle Of Skye (Ward 10 - Eilean A' Cheò). 
Nature of Development: Erection of house, garage and two holiday letting units
Recommendation: Grant 

6.2 
Applicant: Mr Timothy Lumsden (22/00567/FUL) (PLN/079/22)
Location: Land 50M SW Of Bower Old School, Bower (Ward 02 – Thurso and North West Caithness).
Nature of Development: Erection of house and associated drainage.
Recommendation: Grant 
     
6.3 
Applicant: Energiekontor UK Ltd (22/00942/S42) (PLN/080/22)
Location: Land At Torr Leathann Strathrory, Ardross, Alness (Ward 06 - Cromarty Firth).
Nature of Development: Application for non-compliance with Condition 10 (Construction Traffic Management Plan) of planning permission 20/00584/FUL
Recommendation: Approve
     
6.4  
Applicant: Energiekontor UK Ltd (22/01637/FUL) (PLN/081/22)
Location: Land At Torr Leathann Strathrory, Ardross, Alness (Ward 06 – Cromarty Firth).
Nature of Development: Amended access track to Strathrory Wind Farm
Recommendation: Grant
     
6.5 
Applicant: Energiekontor UK Ltd (22/01058/S42) (PLN/082/22)
Location: Land 2400M SE Of Cracrail, Toroboll, Lairg (Ward 01 – North, West and Central Sutherland). 
Nature of Development: Section 42 Application to develop land without compliance with condition 13 of planning permission 21/00849/FUL, relating to implementation of the Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) and increase the timescale direction from 3 to 5 years from the date of consent.
Recommendation: Approve 
     
6.6 
Applicant: Whirlwind Energy Storage Ltd (22/02054/FUL) (PLN/083/22)
Location: Land 295M South Of Mill House, Stainland, Thurso (Ward 02 – Thurso and North West Caithness).
Nature of Development: Erection and operation of a battery energy storage system comprising of up to 50 battery storage units, electrical connection building, landscaping, fencing and ancillary infrastructure.
Recommendation: Grant     

6.7 
Applicant: Mowi Scotland Ltd (22/02482/FUL) (PLN/084/22)
Location: Upper Loch Torridon, Sheildaig (Ward 05 - Wester Ross, Strathpeffer And Lochalsh).
Nature of Development: Marine Fish Farm - Atlantic Salmon: alteration to install two additional 120m circumference cages.
Recommendation: Grant
     
6.8  
Applicant: Energiekontor UK Ltd (22/02717/S36) (PLN/085/22)
Location: Land 1700M SW of Oape, Ardgay (Ward 01 - North, West and Central Sutherland).
Nature of Development: Application for section 36 consent for the proposed Strath Oykel Wind Farm and battery storage, 11 wind turbines of up to 200 metres and associated infrastructure.
Recommendation: Conditionally Raise no Objection