Previous Updates

Coille Beith

Those of you who objected in July to the Coille Beith Wind Farm will have received a notification from the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit (ECU) to inform you that, because the Highland Council visualisations were not originally published on the ECU website, the objection deadline has been extended to 20 Oct 2025. There is no need to submit a further objection, but anyone who did not manage to submit an objection in August may now do so and can encourage others, such as visitors and family members, to consider objecting within the new deadline. Guidance for making an objection to this development can be found on our website - click here. Please ensure you take care to address your submission as indicated and copy it to The Highland Council as the guidance suggests.

Strath Oykel

Following the result of the Judicial Review into the government’s approval of this development, the Energy Consents Unit wrote to all interested parties, but breached confidentiality by publishing individual email addresses. An apology was issued in an email sent on 16th September. It reads as follows:

Good afternoon,

 We apologise for the previous email sent on the 10th of September which showed individual email addresses. We have reported it to the Data protection and information assets team who are aware of the incident. Please delete the previous email and refer to the below.

 Dear Sir/Madam

 PROCEDURE NOTICE

 On 23 July 2025 the Lord Ordinary reduced the Scottish Ministers decision of 8th January 2025 to grant consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to construct and operate the Strath Oykel Wind Farm within the planning authority area of the Highland Council.

As a result, the Scottish Ministers will now reconsider the application and all the available documentation published on www.energyconsents.scot under the application case reference ECU00003246.

 As an interested party the Scottish Ministers hereby provide an opportunity for you to submit any information you consider should be taken into account in this reconsideration. Any information you wish to provide requires to be submitted via email to representations@gov.scot or by writing to the address below by 22 October 2025:

Energy Consents Unit, Scottish Government, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU

Please note that in their redetermination the Scottish Ministers will take into account all representations, consultations and information previously submitted, and these need not be submitted again.  Thank you,  Energy Consents Unit Admin Team

A possible form of words which encapsulates this approach would be as follows, and we suggest you use and/or adapt this as you see fit.

Thank you for your email. I have nothing to add to my earlier objection submitted to you, other than to note that there is still no access for the wind farm. I submit that Ministers should simply refuse the application as per the Reporters’ recommendation.

It is important to respond to this opportunity to demonstrate that strong opposition to the development still exists, so we urge you to write to the ECU before 22.10.25. You should include the application case reference ECU00003246 and include your name and full address. Send your statement either by email or in hard copy to the addresses included in the letter quoted above.

SSEN’s Proposed Pylon Line

This is now in planning. For advice and guidance about how to object see https://www.communitiesb4powercompanies.co.uk/.

For Inspiration in the Struggle

See:

  • NORoS supporter Jon Asanga’s ‘Tribute to the People of Strath Oykel’ which recounts the evening in Rosehall Village Hall where, during the Public Local Inquiry into Strath Oykel Wind Farm in October 2023, the local community had a rare opportunity to tell their truth to the Government Reporters. You can find the piece at Jon’s website by following the link - click here, or by clicking here to find it under Documents on the NORoS website.

  • the compelling film by Lesley Riddoch, The Highland Wind Farm Revolt, which includes an on-site interview with NORoS’s Shona Paterson. Go to YouTube - click here.

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The formal window for objection to the Coille Beith Wind Farm closes on Monday 25th August. For our guidance document about a deeply problematic application which threatens many aspects of local life click here.
One of these is the issue of access and threats to the river Oykel. As explained in our guidance the developers do not have an approved or viable access to the site via either of the routes they propose, one of which involves the construction of a new bridge across the river, adjacent to the existing Bailey Bridge. For two images click here. One taken at the height of Storm Floris demonstrates the total impracticality of establishing a new bridge across the floodplain without causing damage to the river.

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Two wind farm developers have submitted new applications which, if consented, will have a direct impact on Rosehall and Strath Oykel.

  • The first and most urgent is Muirden Energy's application to the Highland Council (advertised on 17th July) to modify their original application for Meall Buidhe which was first consented in June 2023. The closing date for objections to the new Meall Buidhe proposal is Thursday 31st July!

    For the history of this proposal and the proposed changes and details our recommended grounds for objection, click here.
    We strongly urge all our supporters to submit an objection to any changes to the permission already granted for Meall Buidhe and to get your objection in by 31st July.

  • The second is Statkraft's formal application to construct the Coille Beith Wind Farm, adjacent to the consented Strath Oykel development (https://projects.statkraft.co.uk/Coille-Beith/). The closing date for objections to the Coille Beith application, which has been submitted to the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit, is 25th August. For guidelines for objections click here.

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Inveroykel Wind Farm
RWE have announced that they will be holding public consultation sessions for the proposed Inveroykel Wind Farm, stretching along the southern shores of the Kyle from Culrain to Rosehall. The events will be held on 28th May in Culrain Village Hall from 14:00-19:00pm and on 29th May in Rosehall Village Hall from 14:00-19:00pm. Those who cannot make their views known at these drop-in events can access information about the proposals from the 28th May on the RWE website - rwe.com/inveroykel.

Achany Extension
It has been announced that proposals for the approved Achany Extension Wind Farm (planning permission given in 2023) have been withdrawn and that SSE Renewables intend to make a new application to increase the size of the development.

Coille Beith
The Coille Beith Wind Farm planning application (the EIA) to the Energy Consents Unit has still to be submitted. The developer, Statkraft, projected that this would happen this month. We will keep you posted.

Maree Todd Follow Up Meeting 

MSP Maree Todd, following her promise at the previous meeting in February, held a follow up meeting on Friday 9 May in Ardgay Public Hall.

The MSP asked that several documents be distributed prior to the meeting. NORoS has received written permission to post these on its website. Click here to access the MSP's 9 documents, along with an AGENDA for the meeting.

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The Balblair Wind Farm has now entered the planning process and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is available via the following link. While objections were to be lodged by 25th April, objections after this date will be noted. For guidance, click on  Guidance for Objections tab Balblair wind farm.

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The Allt an Tuir Energy Park has entered the planning process and the EIA is available via the following link. While objections were to be lodged by 28th March, objections after this date will be noted. For guidance, click here.

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See STV Coverage on 26th March on the following link https://news.stv.tv/v/concern-over-giant-windfarms-impact-on-the-environment