Scottish Ministers Approve Two Sites for ‘Orkney’s Community Wind Farm Project’

Orkney Islands Council has been advised by the Scottish Government today (21 December) that they have approved planning permission for two six-turbine Council owned wind farms at Quanterness, just outside Kirkwall and at Wee Fea in Hoy.

The two sites are part of the wider Orkney's Community Wind Farm Project, with a similar development also under consideration on Faray in the North Isles.

Planning applications for the Quanterness and Hoy projects were submitted in January 2020 and September 2020 respectively, with both subsequently called-in by the Scottish Government, following a request from the Council on the grounds of national significance.

An application for the Faray development was submitted in June 2021 and has  also now been called in by the Scottish Government.

Any decision on whether or not to go ahead with the project will be subject to separate decisions by Council and it is likely that this will only be taken once the outcome of all three planning applications is known.

John Mundell is Interim Chief Executive of Orkney Islands Council. He said: “We welcome today’s announcement by the Scottish Government who in the planning process have clearly understood the potential economic benefits of ‘Orkney’s Community Wind Farm Project.

“We have one final ‘Orkney’s Community Wind Farm Project’ application currently with the Scottish Government and we await a decision in due course.”

More information about the project is available here.