Sawmill's solar plan wins approval from Highland Council
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A solar-powered future is on the cards for a Black Isle sawmill after it secured planning permission to install the panels to help meet its energy needs.
Highland Council planners this week approved plans by Alasdair Anderson of Raddery Sawmill Ltd for 336 ground-mounted solar panels on vacant land to the north of the Raddery Smithy.
The panels, which will be arranged in five rows each spaced 2.5 metres apart, will be capable of generating 151.2kw of energy.
Granting permission, Highland Council's planners said: "The application seeks planning permission for the installation of ground mounted solar arrays within an existing commercial operation including the applicant’s property at Raddery Sawmill.
"The site lies within a rural setting and north of a single-track public road. The proposed site is located to the north of the applicant’s house and sawmill in an area of vacant land.
"Power is fed to a battery to the applicant’s house to supply both the applicant's property and the commercial operation of Raddery Sawmill.
"The solar arrays will not be visible from the public road and effectively screened from view by the existing business set up. There are no near neighbours. The proposal will not be detrimental to residential and visual amenity and planning permission is granted."
