The Developers: PM Renwables
PM Renewables are a company based in West Lothian. They were originally called PI Renewables, and applied for planning in 2005 for 16 turbines at 102m high at Drone Hill. This application was turned down by the advisory bodies (SNH, RSPB) as the environmental study did not fully deal with the landscape and visual impacts of the development and the potential impact on the wintering hen harrier population.
The developers then submitted an Addendum to the Environmental Statement in February 2007 which was allowed to be submitted with the original planning application of 2005.
Photograph and montage showing the
View from the Howpark Road looking northeast.
The ammended proposal:
- decreased the height of the turbines from 102m to 76m high, a reduction in height by 25.5%
- increased the number of turbines from 16 to 22, an increase in number by 37.5%
- decreased the size of the development footprint from 209 ha to 189 ha, a decrease in size by 8.25%
- decreased the power output of the development from 44MW to 30MW, a decrease in power by 31.8%
The original proposal was turned down due to the fact that the landscape was deemed unable to accomodate the development as the impact and dominance was classed as highly significant. An increase in turbines by 37.5%, over 1/3 the original number of turbines cannot be classed as anything but as significant in terms of dominance and impact.