Strath Halladale - Forsinain Forest 200m+ turbines!
In January of this year Plans for the Kirkton energy park, south of Melvich, were rejected by the Scottish government due to concerns over their impact on the Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area was recognised as "the most outstanding example of a blanket bog ecosystem in the world" in July 2024
But they just keep coming! Now we have another application in Strath Halladale, the Forsinain Forest Wind Farm.
The applicant attempts to justify the location by siting turbines adjacent to, but technically outside the designated peat bog areas. Developers want to build up to 12 turbines (maximum 219m) and a battery storage facility on land adjacent to designated areas of Flow Country to the immediate west and east. Landscapes don’t have boundaries! And it is the landscape that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.
Application details can be viewed on the developer’s site at https://www.forsinainforestwindfarm.co.uk/ or on the Scottish Governments Energy Consents unit site. Details below.
Our guide to objections is available. If you have comments that you might like to add to this to improve it, please get in touch. How to object -
“Any representations to the application may be submitted via www.energyconsents.scot, using the relevant Project Name and/or ECU reference number (ECU00004935). Please note that you must be in possession of a working email address to submit a representation virtually.
If you would prefer to submit your representation by post, please send to the Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU, identifying the proposal and specifying the grounds for representation. Written representations should be dated, clearly stating the name (in block capitals) and full postal address of those making representations.
All representations should be received not later than Wednesday 7th October 2026. Scottish Ministers may be able to consider written representations received after this date”
Wouldn’t it be better for everyone if, instead of seeking to accommodate the wishes of commercial energy providers, the Scottish Government and Highland Council simply said “No developments will be permitted in this area”? (The same argument could be applied to the land corridor between Wick and Thurso where many rural residents reside.)
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Currently Communities B4 Power Companies are very busy on matters relating to the Public Enquiry on the Spittal to Beauly pylon line.
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...and finally, (you couldn’t make it up!)
The RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) Annual Conference is taking place on 2nd October….and the major sponsor is... SSEN! As though the struggle were not unequal enough! (Thanks to Wind Energy’s Absurd for highlighting this)
What does an AI bubble mean for Scotland?
Independent analysis of the considerable risks is required now. The north of Scotland is an area that will pay a high price if the bubble bursts. Policymakers are urged to urgently and more carefully analyse risks.
Want to understand more about why the Pylons are not needed? Read this item and/or watch this video.
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This is Highland Council's map that invites applications for Wind Turbines in any of the areas coloured blue. That's right, peat is given more protection than people! In 2021 when the plan was revised, protective bubbles such as those enjoyed by the residents of Halkirk, Thurso , Castletown and Wick were removed from the likes of Dunbeath and Watten. Meanwhile, if you'd like to read about our thoughts on how rural residents are treated, try this article.
check out our page on visualisations
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Save Caithness has two main aims: i) to embark on carefully selected specialist campaigns intended to take a pro-active approach to protecting our rural environment and raising awareness of the serious issues faced by residents and wildlife and ii) to provide useful general guidance on how to object to energy related planning applications along with facilitating access to more detailed information about current applications Stay updated about our activities by signing up for our mailing list here.