{"id":315286,"date":"2025-08-03T19:13:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-03T19:13:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/315286\/"},"modified":"2025-08-03T19:13:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T19:13:15","slug":"strath-oykel-judges-quash-green-light-for-sutherland-ring-of-steel-wind-farm-after-villagers-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/315286\/","title":{"rendered":"Strath Oykel: Judges quash green light for Sutherland ‘ring of steel’ wind farm after villagers’ campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"

Campaigners fighting plans for a wind farm in Sutherland have won a legal victory after Scotland\u2019s highest civil court quashed government approval for the project.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled that ministers had failed to give adequate reasons for approving the Strath Oykel wind farm near Rosehall.<\/p>\n

If built, the 220m turbines would contribute to what opponents describe as a \u201cring of steel\u201d around the village, potentially leaving residents surrounded by as many as 171 turbines.<\/p>\n

Tisi Dutton, campaigner from No Ring of Steel (NOROS) said locals were \u201cencouraged\u201d by the news.<\/p>\n

\"LocalsSTV NewsLocals have protested the wind farm plan which would see village \u2018encircled by turbines\u2019 STV News<\/p>\n

She told STV News: \u201cI believe the legal process is being followed as it should be. It\u2019s now up to ministers to reconsider the application.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe encirclement of the strath is at the forefront of NOROS\u2019 thinking. We will request that ministers follow the refusal, as has been recommended by the two reporters.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not against windfarms per se, but you\u2019ve got to have the right development in the right place.\u201d<\/p>\n

The proposal, submitted by German developer Energiekontor in 2022, faced more than 150 objections and was unanimously rejected by Highland Council.<\/p>\n

After the Scottish Government asked the local authority to reconsider, councillors stood by their decision. A public inquiry then took place in October 2024.<\/p>\n

Reporters working on behalf of the government recommended that the plans be refused.<\/p>\n

But the government gave the development the green light, prompting Highland Council to launch a legal challenge.<\/p>\n

Judges have now ruled that ministers failed to provide adequate reasons for overturning the inquiry\u2019s recommendation.<\/p>\n

Ministers had argued the development will \u201cprovide a contribution to renewable energy targets and carbon savings\u201d and \u201cwill provide economic benefits which also weigh in its favour.\u201d<\/p>\n

But campaigners say the environmental cost to Strath Oykel and its endangered wildlife was too high.<\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019re the guardians of this strath\u2019\"NoSTV NewsNo Ring Of Steel campaigner Tisi Dutton STV News<\/p>\n

Strath Oykel is popular for its green landscapes, varied wildlife and busy salmon fisheries.<\/p>\n

Turbines are already prominent in the skyline at Rosehall, which campaigners say is putting local wildlife at risk such as bats, water voles and protected bird species, such as white-tailed eagles.<\/p>\n

The original inquiry examined concerns about the cumulative impact of the towers and fears about potential pollution of pristine waters inhabited by critically endangered pearl mussels.<\/p>\n

Tisi said: \u201cIt\u2019s endangerment of the significant area of conservation which is the River Oykel and it\u2019s there to protect critically endangered freshwater pearl mussels and endangered Atlantic salmon.<\/p>\n

\u201cFreshwater pearl mussels are very susceptible to any pollution and any kind of mitigation has been found to be usually and most likely to be unsatisfactory in protecting these creatures.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cWe\u2019re, in a way, guardians of this strath \u2013 of its biodiversity \u2013 but also of its community because if you destroy the river you destroy employment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you destroy the beauty of the place you destroy tourism, and the river and tourism are two key areas of employment here.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s heartbreaking and it\u2019s constant, but Noros wil keep going within the planning framework. It\u2019s immensely important that we keep fighting against the developments that threaten this strath.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scottish Government ministers now have four options under consideration: they may invite further public comment on the planning application; issue a revised approval; uphold the recommended refusal put forward by two independent public inquiry reporters; or initiate a new public inquiry under the oversight of a different reporter.<\/p>\n

German wind farm developer Energiekontor declined to comment.<\/p>\n

STV News is now on WhatsApp<\/p>\n

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