Cnoc Buidhe Wind Energy Hub Limited: Section 36 Consultation: Cnoc Buidhe Wind Farm Energy Hub, Comprising a Wind Farm of Up to 29 Wind Turbines, with 14 of These Up to 180M to Blade Tip and 15 Up to 200M to Blade Tip, with Ancillary Energy Storage and Associated Infrastructure: Approximately 2.5 Km East of Bellochantuy and 10 Km Northwest of Campbeltown (Ref: 25/00600/S36)
Argyll and Bute Council · 18 February 2026
Back to Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee — 18 February 2026 and its agenda
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Argyll and Bute Council Development and Economic Growth This Supplementary report is a recommended response to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU) consultation on the Section 36 Consultation for Cnoc Buidhe Wind Energy Hub, comprising a wind farm of up to 29 wind turbines, with 14 of these up to 180m to blade tip and 15 up to 200m to blade tip, with an ancillary battery energy storage system and associated infrastructure approx. 2.5km East of Bellochantuy and 10km Northwest of Campbeltown. _________________________________________________________________________ Reference No: 25/00600/S36/ ECU00004767 Applicant: Cnoc Buidhe Wind Energy Hub Limited Proposal: S36 Consultation: Cnoc Buidhe Wind Energy Hub, comprising a wind farm of up to 29 wind turbines, with 14 of these up to 180m to blade tip and 15 up to 200m to blade tip, with an ancillary battery energy storage system and associated infrastructure. Site Address: Approx. 2.5km East of Bellochantuy and 10km Northwest of Campbeltown _________________________________________________________________________ SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT NO. 2 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 This Supplementary Report is for the consideration of Members. 1.2 A detailed Report of Handling and Supplementary Report 1 were prepared for PPSL Committee on the 21st January 2026. 1.3 At said committee the Senior Planning Officer spoke to the terms of the reports which provided a recommended response to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU) consultation on the Section 36 Application for Cnoc Buidhe Wind Energy Hub. 1.4 The Committee was asked to agree the recommended response to the ECU set out in the report of handling. The Committee agreed that the ECU be notified accordingly that: 1. Ornithology - Argyll and Bute Council has been unable to reach a conclusion on ornithology due to the outstanding information requested by NatureScot in respect to a kernel analysis for golden eagle and alternative raft locations for Osprey. Furthermore, the Council does not agree that a suspensive condition is the best mechanism to secure the removal of five wind turbines in the interests of mitigating barrier effects on Greenland white-fronted geese. It is considered that this amendment to the proposal would constitute a material change which could have implications for the wider proposal that are unclear at this time and require to be explored e.g. environmental impacts, infrastructure re-design, and requirement for re-consultation. To apply such a condition could result in an unreasonable and unimplementable consent. Argyll and Bute Council OBJECT unless the outstanding information is submitted to the satisfaction of NatureScot and the important mitigation to protect Greenland white-fronted geese is undertaken in advance of determining this application. It is, therefore recommended that the proposal should be amended accordingly and be
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subject to a further period of formal consultation prior to any determination by the ECU or Scottish Ministers. NOTE: With regard to the mitigation, should NatureScot remove or update their objection with mitigation that is considered appropriate as part of the consideration of the current proposal, or which could be secured via planning conditions to be agreed with the Planning Authority, then Argyll and Bute Council would no longer object on these grounds. Officer Comment: Members are advised that a further consultation was received from the Energy Consents Unit on 6th February 2026. This is because the Applicant has now submitted further additional information to the Scottish Ministers relating to analysis of additional data from tagged birds. Officers will be guided by NatureScot’s response on this. If they are satisfied that the additional information satisfactorily addresses the outstanding issues noted above, then the Council’s objection will be withdrawn as stated in the recommendation which was agreed by Members. 2. Peat Landslide Hazard Risk Assessment - Argyll and Bute Council has been unable to reach a conclusion in respect to the Peat Landslide Hazard Risk Assessment (NPF4 Policies 5 and 11 and LDP2 30 and 79). In their Stage 2 Checking Report, Ironside Farrar have advised they have two further queries on assessment of risks to infrastructure that require a response from the developer. It is understood that a response was provided to Ironside Farrar on the 19th of January 2026. Argyll and Bute Council OBJECT unless this issue is resolved to the satisfaction of Ironside Farrar prior to determination of this application by the ECU. Should this issue not be resolved the Council would defer to Ironside Farrar (or any other body appointed by the ECU to provide expert guidance on this matter) in the event of a PLI as no response has been provided by Ironside Farrar on the further information provided by the Applicant. 3. Archaeological Impact - Argyll and Bute Council has no objection in respect to Archaeological Impact, subject to a condition and informative to secure the recommendations of the West of Scotland Archaeology Service being attached to any grant of consent for a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) for archaeological mitigation measures and an advisory note that the Applicant ensures they have all necessary legal permissions for any elements of their archaeological mitigation. Specifically, in regard to the RAF Hudson aircraft crash site mitigation proposals which may require a license from the MoD if it is to be disturbed. 4. Public Access – Argyll and Bute Council has no objection in respect to Public Access subject to advisory notes being attached to any consent to ensure that any Access Controls i.e. gates, and cattle grids comply with the British Horse Society Guidance. Furthermore, that public access during construction should comply with NatureScot guidance ‘Good practice during wind farm construction.’ 5. Landscape & Visual Impact - Argyll and Bute Council also intends to object to the application on the basis of NPF 4 policies 4a and 11 Section E, Paragraphs 2, 3, 4 and 13 and LDP2 Policy 30 on the basis that the application would have a cumulative, significant and unacceptable adverse impact in respect of landscape, visual and cumulative matters and that a detailed representation would be submitted following consideration of the matter at the next scheduled meeting of PPSL Committee.
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In the event the ECU grants consent it was recommended that a condition to secure further aviation lighting mitigation in the form of an Aircraft Detection Lighting System be attached to such a consent. 6. Biodiversity Impact - Argyll and Bute Council has no objection in respect to Biodiversity Impact, subject to conditions to secure the recommendations of the Local Biodiversity Officer being attached to any consent. 7. Noise Impact - Argyll and Bute Council has no objection in respect to noise impact, subject to suitably worded conditions to limit the noise levels, tonality, and amplitude modulation to control noise levels from the proposal and provide appropriate noise mitigation as recommended and agreed by the Council’s Noise Consultant being attached to any consent. 8. Flood Risk - Argyll and Bute has no objection in respect to flood risk subject to conditions to secure the recommendations of the Flood Risk Assessor being attached to any consent: • To ensure watercourse crossings are designed to convey the 1 in 200 year plus climate change flood event. • Surface water drainage is designed in accordance with CIRIA C753 and ensures that post development surface water runoff does not exceed the pre-development surface water runoff. The surface water drainage should be in operation prior to the start of construction. 9. Argyll and Bute Council requests that all conditions recommended by other consultees are included in any Consent with exception to the condition requiring removal of 5 turbines referred to at (1) above. 2. Conclusion 2.1 Following PPSL Committee on the 21st January 2026, Officers informed the ECU of Members decision and advised them that matters would be considered further at the February Committee and thereafter the final response from Argyll and Bute Council would be provided. 3. Recommendation 3.1 It is recommended that Members consider the contents of this report. Author of Report: Arlene Knox Date: 26th January 2026 Reviewing Officer: Sandra Davies Date: 2nd February 2026 Fergus Murray Head of Development and Economic Growth