Allt an Tuir Renewable Energy Park Application – Guidance for Objections
(provided by NO Ring of Steel (NORoS)
Your Community needs your help
On the 14th February 2025 a company called Allt an Tuir Renewable Energy Park Limited submitted a planning application to the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit (ECU), to build the Allt An Tuir Renewable Energy Park comprising - 9 turbines (8 at 200 metres and 1 at 180 metres high), plus a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and a solar photovoltaic (PV) array. Three Borrow pits (quarry) needed.
The site is located approximately 2kms northwest of Rosehall village, with the site boundary abutting onto the Allt an Tuir burn which runs into the River Cassley.
The turbines will be directly sited behind the properties in Rosehall, with one only 1.5 kms from the nearest property. There is no landform or trees in the area to provide screening, as these turbines will tower above them, and many properties in Rosehall, Altass, Durcha, Strath Oykel, Brae + their surrounding areas will be visually affected by the turbines. Due to their height, 3 of the turbines will also be fitted with aviation lights that will be lit from dusk to dawn, resulting in light pollution and ruining the night sky.
The turbines will totally dominate the landscape and they, plus the Solar Array and BESS will be a visual blot and eyesore; they will change the rural character of the village and local area forever. If this development is approved, it could pave the way for the potential close-by proposed Invercassley wind farm and its 22 turbines, a little further north.
The A839 and A837 will be used to transport the turbines from Nigg, through Lairg and across the River Oykel to the site. This will mean vast turbine lorries travelling over the historic Minister’s and Rosehall bridges and through part of Rosehall village to the site. There will also be up to 102 (HGV) and 90 (cars / light vehicle) journeys per day on both roads during peak construction. This will impinge significantly on local residents. With no pavements along the road there is a risk to pedestrians, especially children.
Importantly, few people are aware that our local area is home to some of the last remaining sustainable populations of freshwater pearl mussels in the world which will be at risk of being severely impacted by the construction works involved.
Click on the link to read about the development here: https://www.energyconsents.scot/ApplicationDetails.aspx?cr=ECU00005008 or Read full details of the application and Environmental Impact Assessment at https://www.energyconsents.scot using the reference Strath Oykel or ECU00005008 in the simple search bar.
With Rosehall and Achany windfarms operational, plus the Meall Buidhe, Achany extension and Strath Oykel projects approved, plus Braelangwell, Coille Beith, Balblair and Inver Oykel in various pre-planning stages, our local Strath Kyle area faces being encircled by a ring of steel of 179 turbines.
We are most concerned that this and future developments will have significant damaging impacts on the area and the local economy, and that our once rural landscape is being turned into an industrial one. How you can help
We need as many people as possible (the aim is 400+) to object to this Allt an Tuir proposal, to stand a realistic chance of refusal by the Highland Council and also the Scottish Government, with objections from residents being the most important. Every individual in a household can object, but each individual per house must each send a separate letter, or an email using a different email address. Any Local home-owners and their immediate family, if not permanently resident, should object using their address here (IV24/IV27). People outside the local area are strongly encouraged to object, especially if they have a link to the area i.e. walkers, nature lovers, fishing, regular visitors, holidaymakers etc and please encourage family and friends to also object if they so wish.
You can read below how to submit your Objection. To assist there are some additional suggested points for objections based on our concerns and a study of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) supplied by the developer as part of their planning application.
Please note that the deadline for receipt of your objection is Friday 28th March 2025
Thank you for your help by objecting, for which we, the NORoS Committee, are most grateful.
The essential headings for a letter of objection by post or by email are shown below:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------From: * your name [BLOCK CAPITALS] * Your Full Address + *postcode
To:
*Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit,
4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay,
150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU. * Date
* denotes essential information even by e-mail.
* Objection to the proposed Allt An Tuir Energy Park - Ref: ECU00005008 [ * you should quote this heading on letters and on e-mails]
I wish to object to the proposed Allt an Tuir Energy Park as described in the Developer’s Environmental Impact Statement. There are several factors which concern me and are the basis of my objection:
*Add your objections here (for examples see below) plus evidence you feel maybe relevant to them*.
Signed (Name typed)
Email objections must be made to: representations@gov.scot and e-mails should include the full return (e-mail) address of those making an objection. Only e-mails will receive acknowledgement. Please also BCC/ share your objection to the Highland Council’s Planning Department at eplanning@highland.gov.uk as they will use your comments to help them decide their response as a Statutory consultee. If mailing, post to Planning Department, The Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX
Please make every effort to write now, as the more letters / e-mails of objection received the better. Note that joint letters from one household or a petition of many signatures only count as one objection; so, if you have several people at your address wishing to object, please ask them to send a separate letter / e-mail. If you have only one e-mail for the residence, one person can use that, and the others must write by letter.
Some of the key matters on which you may choose to object
(Please do not copy and paste the suggested objections but instead use these to formulate your own text).
Everyone will have their own reasons why they do not want to see another wind farm around Rosehall and all its surrounding area, but below are some of the key points based on our concerns and a study of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) supplied by the developer. Please note that a spoilt view from your property is not a valid objection.
Visual Impact:
*Huge height difference between these and existing turbines. They will dominate the skyline.
*All 9 turbines are disproportionately high compared to the local landscape. In terms of landscape character, note that the EIA concludes that the development will give rise to major and significant effects on the local landscape within a 5 kms radius.
*Note that the site overlaps into the Reay-Cassley “Wild Land Area 34” (WLA) and that 8 of the proposed turbines and associated infrastructure are located inside the WLA, which would give rise to significant adverse effects on WLA 34.
*There is no land topography or trees to shield the view as the turbines tower above both, so the development will effectively turn our rural landscape into an industrial one.
* The ground area covered by the Solar array is vast at 23.8 hectares, equivalent of 29 football pitches.
* Night-time light pollution from dusk to dawn (whereas none at present) from three of the turbines with aviation warning lights. The EIA admits there will be significant visual effect (light pollution) arising at night in Rosehall.
* The whole development is ill-sited and will significantly impact on all our local settlements i.e. Rosehall, Altass, Durcha, Brae, much of Strath Oykel and further afield.
Cumulative effect
*This proposal cannot be considered in isolation. In the area there are currently two operational windfarms (Rosehall & Achany - total 38 turbines), three more (Achany extension, Meall Buidhe and Strath Oykel approved - total 37 turbines). Allt an Tuir will almost create a 360 degree view of turbines.
* This development would add to significantly to the overall cumulative impact on the landscape character, the visual amenity for residents and visitors, plus the additional cumulative noise from turbines.
Freshwater pearl mussels (Margaritifera Margaritifera)
Sustainable populations of these critically endangered mussels inhabit the Oykel and Cassley and the proposed development will be built within the watercourses flowing into these rivers, which are designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) . They are designated because of the populations of freshwater pearl mussels and salmon that inhabit them. The mussels are in danger of extinction worldwide. As filter feeders the mussels are exceptionally vulnerable to silt, sediment, pollution and minerals. There are known to be minerals around the construction site and these will leach into the watercourses. Mitigation cannot be effective in preventing the mussels being impacted by the construction works and mussel populations will be decimated. The huge construction works will involve quarrying, blasting, excavation, movement of peat and construction of roads and tracks.
The mussels in these waters are internationally important and need to be protected from such development.
The Solar Array
*This will be an eyesore as it will consist of 30,000 panels each 2.5m x 1.1m and will cover an area the equivalent of 29 international football pitches. To make matters worse it is located very close to the Allt an Tuir Burn.
*There will be rows of individual panels with endless cabling to take away the power generated. Worryingly, it is located very close to the Allt an Tuir burn, so the risk of sediment and peat particles, especially during construction, contaminating the burn must be high especially in heavy rain/run off.
Site Selection
*The site is too close to properties and only 1.5 kilometres away from nearest house (March Cottage). It is only 2 kms from Cassley Drive. Will have significant visual and noise impact (W to N wind) for residents.
*Windfarm will not be hidden by trees or landform and the commensurate planting by developer will make no difference. Also 7.7 kilometres of onsite access racks will be created, thus scarring the hillside forever.
* The Core Path Allt an Tuir burn walk will have to be temporarily closed and it would never ever be the same again.
Noise Pollution
*The EIA admits that under specific and limited wind conditions, the official regulated noise limits (laid down by ETSU R-97) may be exceeded during daytime by less than 1 decibel at Rosehall residences, when considering cumulative impacts (Strath Oykel wind farm). Even less than 1 decibel is unacceptable and thus it fails to meet the required standard.
* The local area will be subjected to both excessive noise and infrasound and noise will impinge on the public’s general amenity, including recreational activity in the area and simply being in your garden.
* The need for blasting is predicted as a possibility in the borrow pits – this would affect all Rosehall.
Turbine Flicker
*The EIA confirms that this is likely at March Cottage (the nearest house) for no more than 30 minutes per day or 30 hours per year. This amount is considered significant.
Transportation and impact on local road users and pedestrians especially in Rosehall
*There will be a major increase in daily HGV traffic (during construction an estimated extra daily 102 HGVs and 90 light vehicle journeys). This increase is unsuitable and unacceptable for the single-track roads, Invershin to Rosehall and Lairg to Rosehall. The impact would last for many months.
* There is a serious risk to cyclists, walkers and especially children within Rosehall village with no pavement along the route to be used.
* The main route in for the turbines via Lairg will cross the historic Minister’s and Rosehall Cassley bridges, which are locally considered inadequate for loads like this. Any bridge accidents or damage could mean closure and traffic diversions.
Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
* Locating a battery energy storage system (BESS) here is taking an enormous risk, which is unacceptable.
Important Note: There was a fire at a BESS at Tilbury (Essex) on 19 Feb 25, which took over 24 hours to completely extinguish and the firefighters had good onsite hydrants and were full time and on the spot v quickly. On 21 Feb, another fire occurred in a BESS under construction at Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire.
* A BESS captures energy from renewable and non-renewable sources and stores it in rechargeable batteries (storage devices) for later use. The batteries here is anticipated to use Lithium-Ion technology and will be housed in modified shipping containers in a compound measuring 100metres x 75metres (bigger than an international size football pitch). The compound is just 200metres from the Allt an Tuir burn. There is no indication that there is to be a bund (earth bank) surrounding the site - a valid point on which to object.
* There is a danger associated with BESSs called thermal runaway, which occurs if there is overheating in a battery cell, which does not lessen, and so causes the temperature to rise further. Whilst thermal runaways are not common, they must be considered when deciding if a lithium-ion BESS development is appropriate to this site. A thermal runaway does not require oxygen in order to develop, it cannot be stopped and it can only be contained if extremely large quantities of water are used to cool the battery unit. If not adequately contained, a thermal runaway can produce toxic gases such as hydrogen fluoride, in contact with water, hydrogen fluoride becomes hydrofluoric acid, a highly corrosive substance. The thought of this entering the River Cassley is appalling. Water would be needed to contain a thermal runaway - thousands of litres over 24 hours or longer.
* Where will this water come from with no suitable hydrants? Pumping out of the river, would be catastrophic as it would find its way back in, effectively contaminated having had contact with the battery units. Moreover, with BESS fires ,the sooner a fire team is on the scene the better chance of containment. Yet the nearest non volunteer team trained in such specialist work might be Inverness.
* The EIA is vague as it says that this BESS is anticipated to comprise a lithium-ion battery technology solution, though no final decision has been made. It is additionally vague in saying that “the number, dimensions, housing type, finish, arrangement, security fencing and landscaping of BESS elements would be subject to the Council’s consultation and approval prior to construction”. Objection comment. It is iniquitous that all the details on the BESS are not being given now for all to see, rather than post planning.
Tourism and Local Economy
*The area supports many tourism businesses and visitors come here to enjoy rural outlook and peace and quiet. Will they still come?
*The area attracts visitors for fishing, canoeing, bird watching etc. All enjoy the rural outlook, wildlife and peace and quiet while participating in activities. The Development will significantly affect this amenity.
*Large number of residents employed with tourism and recreational activities and visitors also make use of local facilities whilst here. Any reduction in tourism numbers will have significant impact on local economy.
Human Rights and effect on mental health.
* There are some within our communities who are affected by such developments, due to the physical effects of turbines, the possible loss of employment and the irreversible alteration to the community and area. Our community needs to be listened to and a Human Rights based approach adopted. Councillors, MSPs and those within Statutory Consultee organisations holding positions which determine windfarm decisions, need to listen to and engage with the voices and day to day experiences of communities, especially those being inundated with turbines, solar arrays and BESSs.