Printed minutes
Argyll and Bute Council · 22 October 2025
Back to Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee — 22 October 2025 and its agenda
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MINUTES of MEETING of PLANNING, PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND LICENSING COMMITTEE held BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on WEDNESDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2025 Present: Councillor Kieron Green (Chair) Councillor Jan Brown Councillor Amanda Hampsey Councillor Graham Hardie Councillor Fiona Howard Councillor Andrew Kain Councillor Paul Donald Kennedy Councillor Liz McCabe Councillor Dougie Philand Councillor Peter Wallace Attending: Stuart McLean, Committee Manager Peter Bain, Development Manager Sandra Davies, Major Applications Team Leader Arlene Knox, Senior Planning Officer 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Councillors John Armour, Gordon Blair, Audrey Forrest, Daniel Hampsey and Mark Irvine. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest. 3. MINUTES a) The Minute of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee held on 16 September 2025 at 11.00 am was approved as a correct record. b) The Minute of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee held on 16 September 2025 at 2.30 pm was approved as a correct record. c) The Minute of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee held on 16 September 2025 at 3.30 pm was approved as a correct record. d) The Minute of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee held on 30 September 2025 at 10.00 am was approved as a correct record. e) The Minute of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee held on 30 September 2025 at 2.00 pm was approved as a correct record. 4. THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT: SECTION 36 CONSULTATION FOR WIND FARM CONSISTING OF 9 TURBINES EACH WITH A MAXIMUM BLADE TIP HEIGHT OF UP TO 180 METRES. GENERATING CAPACITY WILL BE MORE THAN 50MW: KILLEAN ESTATE, NEAR TAYINLOAN (REF: 24/01541/S36) The Senior Planning Officer spoke to the terms of the report which provided a recommended response to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU)
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consultation on a Section 36 Application for a wind farm on the Killean Estate, near Tayinloan. This report reviewed the relevant policy considerations, planning merits, and views of consultees and representations. An extension was requested from the ECU in May to enable objections to be resolved from NatureScot, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Scotland and National Air Traffic Services (NATS) and a consultation response to be received from West of Scotland Archaeology Service. This request was refused, and a holding objection was submitted which requested that the ECU postpone making a decision on the application until the outstanding matters had been resolved and the Council provides another response. Apart from the outstanding NATS objection all matters have been resolved, and it is intended that this report and its recommendation will provide the Council’s final consultation response to the ECU. The Committee was asked to agree the recommended response to the ECU set out in the report of handling. During consideration of this item the Chair ruled, and the Committee agreed, to adjourn the meeting at 12 noon to allow Members time to consider a competent Motion to object to this application. The Committee reconvened at 12.20 pm with all those present as per the sederunt. Decision The Committee agreed that the ECU be notified accordingly that: 1. There is an unresolved objection from National Air Traffic Services Safeguarding (NATS). Consequently, Argyll and Bute Council Object on the grounds that the proposal will have an adverse Aviation Impact, contrary to the provisions of Policy 11 – Energy of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) which requires that project design and mitigation demonstrates how impacts on aviation and defence interests including seismological recording have been addressed, Policy 30 – the Sustainable Growth of Renewables of Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2) which requires impacts on aviation and defence interests and seismological recording to be addressed, and Policy 43 – Safeguarding of Aerodromes of LDP2 which stipulates that development will not be permitted where it would compromise the safe operation of an Aerodrome or Technical Site or constrain their present or future operations. 2. 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. Having moved an Amendment which failed to find a seconder, Councillor Paul Kennedy asked for his dissent from the foregoing decision to be recorded. (Reference: Report by Head of Development and Economic Growth dated 6 October 2025, submitted)
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Councillor Paul Kennedy left the meeting at this point. 5. THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT: SECTION 36 CONSULTATION FOR ERECTION OF 12 WIND TURBINES WITH A MAXIMUM BLADE TIP HEIGHT OF UP TO 200 METRES AND BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS) - CORR CHNOC WIND FARM: LAND APPROXIMATELY 2KM NORTH EAST OF KILMORE AND 5KM EAST OF THE CENTRE OF OBAN (25/00036/S36) The Major Applications Team Leader spoke to the terms of the report which provided a recommended response to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU) consultation on a Section 36 Application for Corr Chnoc Wind Farm on land approximately 2km North East of Kilmore and 5km East of the centre of Oban. This report reviewed the relevant policy considerations, planning merits, and views of consultees and representations. Reference was also made to a supplementary report which provided an update regarding an issue in relation to NatureScot’s consultation response to the ECU and an update on the numbers of representations submitted to the ECU. The Committee was asked to agree the recommended response to the ECU set out in the report of handling. Decision The Committee agreed that the ECU be notified accordingly that: 1. Argyll and Bute Council Objects to the proposal on the grounds that there are unresolved ornithology issues contrary to the provisions of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF) Policies 3 and 11 and Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2) Policies 30 and 73, and it is not possible to reach a conclusion on the proposal's acceptability in this regard at this time. NOTE - If these matters are resolved to the satisfaction of NatureScot, Argyll and Bute Council will withdraw this objection. Should the objection remain unresolved, and the proposal progresses to Public Inquiry, Argyll and Bute Council would defer to NatureScot. 2. Argyll and Bute Council does not object on landscape and visual grounds subject to the removal of Turbine 18 (as agreed by the applicant). The Council recommends the following advice is also considered by the Energy Consents Unit: Mitigation - Consideration should be given to the mitigation recommended by the Council’s Consultant Landscape Architect: 1. Felling of 27.44 ha of woodland and forest would be required for construction of the access including 5.63 ha of AWI woodland. Of the total felling, 10.76 ha of woodland would be restocked on site. The remaining 16.68 ha of felled woodland would not be restocked within the site, but compensation planting would be required to comply with the Scottish Government's Control of Woodland Removal
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Policy. The Applicant commits to providing appropriate compensatory planting to be agreed with Scottish Forestry and controlled through planning conditions. Where possible restocking should be local to the windfarm area and comprise native species broadleaf woodland to help offset losses of AWI woodland, enhance the surrounding landscape and potentially provide ‘positive effects for biodiversity’ (in line with NPF4 Policy 2). 2. Smart aviation lighting (ADLS) activated by approaching aircraft be implemented if it is approved for use in UK airspace before construction of the windfarm. A condition is recommended to ensure that ADLS be installed should it become available for use in the UK. 3. Argyll and Bute does not object on noise impact grounds subject to the inclusion of a condition recommended by the Council’s Noise Consultant including the apportioned limits as set out in the July 2025 response from the applicant (Metrica 15/7/25). 4. Argyll and Bute Council does not object on Public Access grounds subject to a condition requiring the developer to prepare an Access Plan for approval by the Council prior to the commencement of construction. 5. Argyll and Bute Council does not object on Roads grounds subject to the conditions specified by the Roads Service in their consultation response dated 14/01/25, namely: • New accesses at junction with public road, (UC32 Glenlonan)to be constructed in accordance with Operational Services Drg No SD08/001a and aligned to 90° to the public road. New accesses on UC32 to be staggered for a minimum 30m and not be directly opposite each other. • No walls, fences, hedges etc will be permitted within 2m from the channel line of the public road. Visibility splays measuring 84m x 2.4m to be cleared and maintained at connections with UC32 Road. • A system of surface water drainage is required to prevent the flow of water from passing onto the public road. Any roadside ditch/drains to be culverted in agreement with Roads. • Road signs and road markings as per TSRGD to be installed as following. • Signs as per Dia 504.1 to be installed at an agreed location on the public road, (UC32) east and west of new junctions. • Road markings as per Dia 1002.1 and 1022 to be installed at new junctions at connections with UC32. • Junction signs as per Dia 601.1 to be installed at junctions with public road. 6. Argyll and Bute Council requests that the recommendations of the Local Biodiversity Officer are considered by the ECU: While the impact to bats is unlikely to be significant, it would be advisable to monitor any fatalities that may occur from collision as they are found to forage within the wind
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turbine areas. This information will feed into mitigation measures which can be altered accordingly to ensure any negative impacts to foraging / commuting bats is minimal. 7. Marsh Fritillary Butterflies: Whilst NatureScot has not objected to this issue, it is noted that there are unresolved issues between the applicant and NatureScot. It is recommended that the ECU gives further consideration to this issue before determining the application. 8. Argyll and Bute Council requests that all other conditions recommended by consultees are included in any Consent. (Reference: Report by Head of Development and Economic Growth dated 6 October 2025 and Supplementary Report Number 1 dated 21 October 2025, submitted) Councillor Amanda Hampsey left the meeting during consideration of the foregoing item.