Agenda
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A meeting of the North Planning Applications Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday 11 March 2026 at 9.30 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
Arlene Gibbs, Principal Solicitor – Planning
(for Chief Officer, Legal and 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 21 January 2026.
4. Major Development Update
Iarrtasan Mòra
There is circulated Report No PLN/010/26 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. 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
There is circulated Report No PLN/011/26 by the Area Planning Manager – North.
The Committee is invited to note the applications.
6. Pre Determination Hearing and Determination of Planning Application
Èisteachd Ro-dhearbhaidh is Dearbhadh airson Iarrtas Dealbhachaidh
Applicant: Thistle Wind Partners Joint Venture (25/02964/PIP) (PLN/012/26)
Location: Land 1500M East Of Old Free Church Manse
Bower (Ward 02).
Nature of Development: Construction of onshore transmission infrastructure
comprising cable landfall, substation, cable circuits, temporary construction areas, access, drainage, landscaping and associated infrastructure.
Recommendation: GRANT
7. Planning Applications to be Determined
Iarrtasan Dealbhaidh rin Dearbhadh
There are circulated Reports Nos PLN/013/26 to PLN/018/26 by the Area Planning Manager - North which are as follows:-
7.1
Applicant: Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Plc. (24/05153/S37) (PLN/013/26)
Location: Land Between Strathy North And South Wind Farms, Strathy (Ward 01).
Nature of Development: Strathy Wood Wind Farm Grid Connection - installation and operation of approximately 4.5 km of 132 kV overhead line (OHL) on double circuit steel structure towers and the installation and operation of 2 No. trident wood H poles each with downlead spans of up to 18m from each pole for connection onto an existing trident H wood pole 132 kV OHL.
Recommendation: RAISE AN OBJECTION
7.2
Applicant: Global Energy Nigg/Sumitomo Electric UK Cable Ltd (25/02492/S42) (PLN/014/26)
Location: Sumitomo Electric UK Power Cables LTD, Nigg, Tain (Ward 07).
Nature of Development: Section 42 application to vary Condition 9 on 23/04662/FUL to amend construction working hours and days.
Recommendation: GRANT
7.3
Applicant: Boralex Ltd (25/02861/S36) (PLN/015/26)
Location: Land 1500M SE Of Borlum House Reay (Ward 02).
Nature of Development: Limekiln Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) - Construction and operation of a proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) (over 50 MW) and an extension to the existing Limekiln Wind Farm Substation, associated infrastructure, access and ancillary works.
Recommendation: RAISE NO OBJECTION
7.4
Applicant: A. & D. Sutherland Ltd (24/02943/FUL) (PLN/016/26)
Location: Caithness Flagstone Limited, Spittal Quarry, Spittal, Wick (Ward 03).
Nature of Development: Extension to Spittal Quarry for the extraction of flagstone.
Recommendation: GRANT
7.5
Applicant: Highland Heart Ltd (25/00282/FUL) (PLN/017/26)
Location: Land 45M SE Of Sandbank, Broadford, Isle of Skye (Ward 10).
Nature of Development: Erection of 8 short-term letting units, 1 staff facilities unit and 1 service/office unit
Recommendation: GRANT
7.6
Applicant: Helen and Dennis Connell (25/01280/FUL) (PLN/018/26)
Location: Helden, 16 Waterloo, Breakish, Isle Of Skye (Ward 10).
Nature of Development: Erection of decking, formation of parking hard standing and gate (retrospective)
Recommendation: GRANT
8. Decision of Appeals to the Scottish Government Planning and Environmental Appeals Division in respect of Applications made under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989
8.1
Applicant: Mey Energy Storage Limited (24/02621/S36) (ECU00004838)
Location: Land 700M East Of Woodlands Mey (Ward 3)
Nature of Development: Installation of a battery energy storage system and associated infrastructure with a generating capacity of up 300mw located on land at Phillips Mains Farm
The Committee is invited to note the decision of the Reporter to grant planning permission for the reasons given in the decision notice.
8.2
Applicant: Kirkton Wind Farm Limited (22/05533/S36) (WIN-270-21)
Location: Kirkton Energy Park, 2.1km South of Melvich, Sutherland, IV24
Nature of Development: Kirkton Energy Park - Erection and operation of a wind farm comprising of 11 wind turbines of up to 149.9m blade tip height, battery energy storage system, access tracks, substation, control building, 2 borrow pits, temporary construction compound and associated development for a period of 30 years
The Committee is invited to note the decision of the Reporter to refuse planning permission for the reasons given in the decision notice.
9. Appeals to Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) under Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997
Applicant: Ms Marlene Lipka (25/01063/FUL) (PPA-270-2317)
Location: 15 Riverside Place Thurso KW14 8BZ
Nature of Development: Extension and change of use from house to paint & decoration supply business (in retrospect)
The Committee is invited to note the decision of the Reporter to dismiss the appeal and refuse planning permission.