National park calls in hydro scheme

Plans to build a hydro-electric scheme on the Queen’s Balmoral estate are to come under scrutiny from park chiefs.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA), which is responsible for planning in the area, said the proposal raises “issues of significance to the collective aims of the National Park”.

It has now called in the application, which was originally submitted to Aberdeenshire Council.

Balmoral Estates proposes installing a 2MW hydro-electric scheme on the River Muick, approximately 7 km to the southwest of Ballater.

The scheme comprises the construction of a buried pipeline approximately 3km long, a semi-buried powerhouse and a pipe and channel returning water to the river.

Aberdeenshire Council objected to the proposal citing noise concerns.

Team manager Louise Cunningham wrote: “I am concerned that there may be noise emission from the proposals which could be detrimental to the amenity of neighbouring noise-sensitive receptors.

“Typically hydropower turbines can emit significant amounts of noise.

“The noise information currently provided in the Environmental Statement offers no measurements of the current background noise nor any site-specific predictions.”

CNPA regularly calls in hydro plans and said its policies generally encourage renewable energy of a scale and character that is compatible with the National Park, particularly biomass and hydro.

A park authority spokeswoman said: “The CNPA planning team take an objective and professional approach to all cases based on the merits of the submission and the prevailing policy context.”

Balmoral Castle.