Following the submission of Cnoc Buidhe Wind Energy Hub's planning application on 11th April 2025 Belltown hosted a drop-in day at Glenbarr Village Hall for local residents to come and view the planning documents and Environmental Impact Assessment Report with representatives available to answer questions on the project and planning process. 

The key message from the day was that the members of the public have until the 19th of May to submit representations, supporting or objecting to the application, to the Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit. Representations can be made by either email or post, identifying the proposal and specifying the grounds for representation. Written or emailed representations should be dated, clearly stating the name (in block capitals) and full return email and postal address of those making representations. Only representations sent by email to representations@gov.scot will receive acknowledgement.

The project can be identified by the ECU application reference ECU00004767.
Email representations should be sent to representations@gov.scot and written representations should be sent to Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU.

Physical copies of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report are available throughout the public consultation period at both of Argyll and Bute Council's Campbeltown and Lochgilphead Public Service Points, open from 9 am to 12 pm. Virtual copies are available on both the project and ECU website throughout the planning process.
 

We're very pleased to confirm submission of our planning application to the Scottish Government for the Cnoc Buidhe Wind Energy Hub.

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to shaping our proposals by providing feedback and attending our public consultations. A physical copy of the planning application is available at Argyll and Bute Council’s public service points in Campbeltown and Lochgilphead.

The full planning application and all the associated documents can also be viewed online, on this website (see Project Proposal section) and on Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit website (www.energyconsents.scot) reference ECU00004767 where representations can also be submitted up to 19 May 2025.

The proposal is for 29 turbines with tip heights ranging from 180 - 200 m and a total generating capacity of up to 191.4 MW (29 x 6.6 MW). These turbines, together with a battery energy storage facility of up to 108.6 MW, peatland restoration and habitat enhancements, collectively make up the Wind Energy Hub.

Belltown has committed to providing Community Benefit for the lifetime of the project. Based on the current proposal, this would deliver £957,000 each year, for 40 years. During the consultation, local people strongly supported the idea of the community benefit funds being used for an electricity discount scheme (EDS): currently more than 5000 properties stand to benefit with annual discounts ranging between £700 to £150.

Belltown offers a ground-breaking Community Ownership scheme where local communities that host the wind energy hubs are offered 1% of the project ownership for free, with further stakes up to 4% available to be purchased at development cost.

Daniel Morgan, Development Manager at Belltown, added; “At Belltown we fundamentally believe that renewable energy projects should benefit the communities that host them and we look forward to continuing to progress both the Community Benefit and Ownership proposals with the local communities as the application progresses.”

Should the proposal be consented, Belltown could start construction in 2027; the company offers a procurement policy that favours local contractors to ensure they and local suppliers benefit from the project.

Cherry Hall, Senior Development Manager, visited Campbeltown Grammar for their annual Careers & Pathway Event. The aim of the day was to meet students from each academic year and inspire them to consider Renewable Energy as a career choice. 

Whether students are considering STEM subjects or the arts, Renewable Energy has a career path for everyone. With the sector due to grow over the next 20 years, as we head towards Net Zero, employers will be looking for new talent to join their teams at every level.

The day was a great success. It was a chance to engage with over 350 students working towards their National's and Highers. Belltown Power was delighted to participate in the Careers & Pathway Event.

Our second round of public consultations takes place in November 2023. There will be in-person drop in exhibitions held at:

• Glenbarr Village Hall, Tuesday 28 November 2023, 08.30am-12.30pm
• Campbeltown Town Hall, Tuesday 28 November 2023, 2.30pm-8pm

Please come along and find out more about the proposal, ask any questions you may have, leave feedback and tell us how you'd like to see the community benefit fund used.

There is now also a virtual exhibition online, for anyone who isn't able to make it along in person.

In March 2023 we submitted our Scoping Report to the Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit. The scoping process allows us to engage with key stakeholders ahead of submitting a planning application to ensure our methodology and approach is suitable and will allow them to properly opine on our subsequent Section 36 application.

The Scoping Report and all associated documents are available on the Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit website and in the Project Documents section above.

We will be holding a virtual exhibition (15  Nov -19 Dec) and two in-person exhibitions (22 Nov - Glenbarr Hall near Glenbarr Stores 1-7pm and 23 Nov - Campbeltown Town Hall 9-12 noon). 

Do please join us at one of these events where you can ask questions about our proposal and share your views. Please also complete a Feedback form.

Installation of a temporary, 80m high meteorological mast commenced this month, following planning consent being granted. It will be used to measure and validate the wind resource at the Cnoc Buidhe site.