Plans for two 150-metre-high wind turbines near the historic village of Dundonald in South Ayrshire are facing a recommendation for refusal from council planners.
The proposed development by The Farm Energy Company would be situated less than a mile from Dundonald and primarily supply the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) manufacturing facility on Shewalton Road.
The project has garnered mixed reactions, with 11 objections and 6 letters of support, including one from Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce. Dundonald Community Council provided a neutral response.
Several key organisations have raised objections, including Historic Environment Scotland, National Air Traffic Services, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, and the council’s own landscape consultant.
A report to be considered by South Ayrshire Council’s regulatory panel outlines several reasons for recommending refusal.
It stated: “The proposed wind turbines would introduce significant landscape and visual effects to nearby receptors, compromise the undeveloped setting of the nearby village of Dundonald, compromise the open separation function that the site and surrounding local landscape provides from nearby industrial development and the operational GSK wind turbines, result in the introduction of a visually dominant wind farm landscape to the locality.”
These include significant landscape and visual impacts, compromising the undeveloped setting of Dundonald, and creating a visually dominant wind farm landscape.
There are also concerns about the detrimental impact on the landscape surrounding Dundonald Castle, a nationally important monument that attracts many visitors.
Despite the potential economic benefits, including a proposed annual £21,300 community fund for Dundonald, planners have recommended that councillors refuse the application due to the significant concerns raised.
The South Ayrshire Council’s regulatory panel is set to consider the application on 11 December
