CCC challenges ridiculous decision to approve unbuildable solar farm

On 9 February 2024, the Scottish Government overruled a unanimous cross-party decision by North Ayrshire Council’s Planning Committee to reject a proposed solar farm on the Isle of Cumbrae. The developer Comsol appealed against the decision, and despite strong criticism by MP’s, councillors and the local community, Stephen Hall, DPEA’s Official Reporter has decided to allow the scheme to go ahead.

Cumbrae Community Council are aghast at the decision to approve the scheme, which they have been arguing for years, is completely unbuildable.

Architect Dr Gregor Harvie, spokesperson for Cumbrae Community Council said: “The proposed site, on Minnemoer at the highest point of the island, has an extremely complex topography, with steep undulating slopes, huge rocky outcrops and widespread boggy areas. It will not be possible to build the solar farm without completely devastating this important wildlife sanctuary. The site is a designated Special Landscape Area (SLA), Local Nature Conservation Site (LNCS), and is home to 20 endangered species of bird and seven priority habitats. The only way to build this scheme will be to level the site.

“To give just one example, Comsol’s drawings shows a perfectly straight road somehow traversing up a 45 degree slope that rises eight metres in elevation. This would be completely impossible to construct or to use. There are lots of other areas where the straight lines of 12,000 solar panels shown on the drawings could not be built without totally remodelling this sensitive landscape.

“When we pointed this out, Comsol, wrote to the planners saying no changes would be required to the topography of the site, but this is obviously not true. Either they have not been to the site and don’t understand its complexity, or they are not being honest about the destruction of Minnemoer that they are planning. Our fear is that now they have permission, they will make changes to the design and will destroy first then apologise later. This is a cynical strategy.

“We told the Scottish Government the scheme is unbuildable, and the Reporter said he would make an in-person visit, but he rejected our offer to accompany him so we could point out the problems. We cannot understand how he thinks the installation of straight rows of solar panels, buildings over 5m tall and a network of roads can be constructed on this complex site that includes a 25m change in elevation, deep valleys and dense vegetation.

“We are calling on North Ayrshire Council to rigorously enforce the permission that has been granted and to make absolutely sure Comsol stick by their promise not to change the topology of the site, because we simply do not believe them. And they can be assured that we will be watching every move they make. If the landscape is changed or the habitat damaged, we will not stand for it.”

9 February 2024