New bid for planning permission for Pairc windfarm 4/2/09

The design of a controversial giant windfarm on Lewis has been revamped in a bid to win planning permission it has emerged.

Scottish and Southern Energy (SEE) has lodged new plans showing a reconfigured layout of massive turbines at Pairc in Lochs.

This is the third time SSE have changed their plans for the Pairc estate.

Originally it wanted to erect 125 turbines but this was cut to just 57 machines when the official application was lodged in June 2007.

SSE now wants to build just 26 machines in a 94 MW scheme across crofting and private moorland in South Lochs.

In December 2007 Western Isles Council refused to pass the whole scheme despite many councillors lamenting the potential multi-million pound loss of community benefit.

The power company followed the local authority’s advice to submit a new bid in a strategy which may avoid a public inquiry.

It is understood that the planning application was submitted to the Scottish Government yesterday (wed).

SSE said: “SSE Generation Limited has applied to the Scottish Ministers for consent to construct and operate a wind farm at Pairc, Isle of Lewis.

It said it has lodged further information including the amended layout, landscape and visual, ecology, birds, noise, cultural heritage, soils and water, and social and economic effects to the windfarm environmental statement.

March 13th is the deadline for public representations.

Villagers were furious that the previous plans showed many turbines close to the road winding through the district and only a mile from houses.

Islanders are concerned about the dominant visual impact of a long line of turbines which will be seen along the main tourist route between Lewis and Harris.