The Cairngorms National Park Authority has objected to the proposed Allt Duine windfarm in the eastern Monadhliath mountains near Kingussie and Kincraig.
The National Park’s planning committee decided unanimously to object to the plan for 31 turbines by RWE_N Power Renewables. The site is on land owned by the Alvie, Dalraddy and Dunachton estates and follows the boundary of the national park. Although the turbines would be outwith the National Park, with the nearest turbine about 5km from Kincraig, service roads, tracks and cabling would have to be built in the National Park.
Officials from the Cairngorms National Park said the 16km of new tracks leading from the A9 would have a significant effect on the landscape. The Park Authority also had concerns about the effect on tourism and protected species of birds such as golden eagles. The Park Authority does not have a policy of opposing wind farms near the Park boundary as a matter of course, but does have to take into account the culmulative effect of wind farms which have already been given permission and those already constructed.
The final decision on the Allt Duine windfarm will be made by Scottish Government minsters due to the size of the scheme.