Turbine proposal given green light
Solar panels, a bothy and house also in plans
Conditional approval has been granted for a new house, bothy and wind turbine between Fintry and Kippen.
Mr and Mrs C Hewett had submitted an application to Stirling Council planners for the development, which also features ground mounted solar panels and a micro-wind turbine 960 metres south west of Gribloch.
The site is around 2.45km south west of Kippen, within a depression in the landscape near Broich Burn.
The ruins of an old mill that previously occupied the site are still visible and the remains of a separate building are to the south west. A new access will be created from the B822.
The proposals had the support of Kippen
Community Council. Stirling Council planners said: “The wind turbine will be to the south west of the site on slightly more elevated ground from the main building.
“Due to the scale of the proposed turbine, being under 15m in height, the spatial strategy related to the location of wind turbines does not apply.
“The turbine proposed is to be eight metres in height, with the blades equalling two metres in diameter. Due to the micro-scale nature of the development, it is not deemed to result in a negative impact on the wider area.
“It will also ensure that energy consumption as part of t h i s development is reduced.
“The potential visual impact of the wind turbine is deemed to be minimal in nature, therefore it is deemed this element is acceptable.”
More generally, the planners said, given there was evidence of its former use on the site, the land had been classified as brownfield.
“Although the wider environment may not significantly benefit, due to the nature of the proposal, the proposed development is unlikely to have negative impact on the wider environment, due to the
small scale nature of the proposal. “The potential for this area being maintained and saved from further decay is to be welcomed, and will increase the aesthetic appeal of this plot.
“The design is novel in approach, and nods to the former use of the site as a mill.
“The use of reclaimed stone would be encouraged to further integrate the dwelling in with its surroundings.”
The planners added that the bothy, although too large to be classified as a hut, incorporated sustainable materials, such as wood, and a condition would be attached to ensure it could not be sold or rented separate from the house.
The wind turbine will be to the left of the site and is elevated