A hydro scheme proposed for a remote site in Wester Ross has been rejected for a second time by Highland Council – but could yet resurface.
In July, officers refused London-based DHG Hydro’s 2MW vision for a scheme on the Allt Airdeasaidh River (Ardessie Burn) that flows into Little Loch Broom near Dundonnell, because it was deemed contrary to planning policy.
They felt it would pose a “significant detrimental impact” on the An Teallach site of special scientific interest.
The officers also stated that access would be “extremely problematic” because of the altitude, geology and gradient involved.
Members of the council’s planning review body, meeting in Inverness, yesterday upheld the decision but indicated their support if the applicants could mitigate for the effects of visual impact.
Officials had concerns about the scale, design and potentially negative impact on the local environment.
Councillors had carried out a site visit earlier this week.
Councillor Bill Lobban said he was “torn” with the application.
“I feel that in 25 years time, if we approved this, you would see very little,” he said. “But during the construction phase and for many, many years afterwards this would be quite a visible scar on the landscape – and a landscape which appears to be very important for tourists.”
Ultimately, he said he was inclined to vote against the proposal.
His colleague Thomas Prag agreed that the perceived visual intrusion of the access track posed a potential problem. Others agreed.
London-based DHG Hydro has built numerous hydro schemes in Scotland and elsewhere in Britain.
Speaking afterwards, the company’s Nick Curtis, who was in the chamber for the discussion, said: “There was strong support for the scheme, in my view.
“And we were encouraged to come back and present other proposals and enter into a dialogue with Scottish Natural Heritage (an objector) about how the hill track could be built.”