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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Scottish Court of Session Decisions >> WILDLAND LTD AND THE WELBECK ESTATES AGAINST SCOTTISH MINISTERS [2017] ScotCS CSOH_113 (30 August 2017)
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Cite as: [2017] ScotCS CSOH_113
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OUTER HOUSE, COURT OF SESSION
[2017] CSOH 113
P41/17
OPINION OF LORD BOYD OF DUNCANSBY
In the petition
WILDLAND LTD and THE WELBECK ESTATES
against
SCOTTISH MINISTERS
Petitioners
Respondents
Petitioners: Findlay, A Sutherland; Brodies
Respondents: Crawford QC, Barne; Scottish Government Legal Directorate
30 August 2017
[1] As part of its commitment to tackling climate change the Scottish Parliament passed
the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. That Act set out targets for reducing greenhouse
gas emissions to an interim target of 42% by 2020 and an 80% target by 2050. One of the
main ways of achieving these targets is the replacement of carbon emitting energy
generation with renewable sourced energy. The Scottish Government has set a target of
providing 30% of overall energy demand from renewable sources by 2020. A significant
proportion of this will come from both offshore and onshore wind. However the
development of wind power brings its own environmental challenges as turbines can have
significant impacts on natural habitats, birds, landscape and scenic values. The resolution of
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these conflicts can raise issues of fine judgement and generate significant controversy as the
number of cases involving wind farms in this court can testify.
[2] This petition seeks to reduce a decision of the Scottish Ministers dated 17 October
2016, to grant consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 and deemed planning
consent under section 57(2) of the Town & Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 for the
Creag Riabhach Wind Farm on the Altnaharra Estate in Sutherland.
[3] The development comprises 22 wind turbines with a maximum tip height of
125 metres and a generating capacity in excess of 50MW. The site lies 6.5km southwest of
Altnaharra and runs along the western side of Strath Vagastie. Ben Klibreck is
approximately 4km east of the site and Ben Hee approximately 10km west.
Environmental Designations
[4] With the exception of the Wild Land Area referred to below the site is not subject to
any environmental designations. However, there are a variety of designations within the
immediate and wider surrounding area. Immediately west and south of the site is the
“Cnoc an Alaskie” Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This forms part of the Caithness
and Sutherland Peatlands – Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Areas
(SPA) and Ramsar Site. Ben Klibreck SSSI lies to the immediate east of the River Vagastie.
To the north, north-west and west of the site there are three National Scenic Areas (NSAs)
including Kyle of Tongue, North West Sutherland and Coigach & Assynt. There are two
Special Landscape Areas (SLAs) located to the east including Ben Klibreck and Loch Choire
SLA and Bens Griam and Loch Nan Clar SLA.
[5] At the time the application was submitted and prior to publication of the National
Planning Framework 3 (NPF3) and Scottish Planning Policy 2014 (SPP 2014), both in June
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2014, the proposed wind farm was situated between the Ben Hee Search Area of Wild Land
(SAWL) to the west and the Ben Klibreck SAWL to the east. SPP 2014 incorporated into
Scottish Planning Policy Scottish Natural Heritage’s 2014 map of Wild Land Areas (the SNH
Map). The SNH Map revised the geographic extent of the previous search areas. Following
the introduction of the SNH Map, and at the time of the decision, the site of the wind farm
was situated between Area 35 Ben Klibreck – Armine Forest (WLA 35) and Area 37 Foinaven
– Ben Hee (WLA 37). Five of the turbines are within WLA 37. The distance from the centre
of each of these turbine bases to the edge of the WLA ranges from 14 metres to 348 metres.
Relevant Policy
[6] NPF3 provides as follows:
“3.23 Onshore wind will continue to make a significant contribution to
diversification of energy supplies. We do not wish to see wind farm development in
our National Parks and National Scenic Areas. Scottish Planning Policy sets out the
required approach to spatial frameworks which will guide new wind energy
development to appropriate locations, taking into account important features
including wild land.
4.4 Scotland’s landscapes are spectacular, contributing to our quality of life, our
national identity and the visitor economy. Landscape quality is found across
Scotland and all landscapes support place-making. National Scenic Areas and
National Parks attract many visitors and reinforce our international image. We also
want to continue ougr strong protection for our wildest landscapes – wild land is a
nationally important asset.”
[7] In 2002, SNH issued a policy statement entitled “Wildness in Scotland’s
Countryside”. Attached to the statement was a map showing Search Areas for Wild Land
(SAWLs). A description of the evolution of policy from then up to the adoption of SPP 2010
is set out in the Opinion of Lady Wise in Glenmorie Wind Farm Ltd v Scottish Ministers 2016
CSOH 34 at paragraphs 3 to 6. SPP 2014 included a new national policy on the issue of wild
land with designated Wild Land Areas (WLA) which superseded SAWLs. SPP 2014
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categorises WLAs as “Areas for significant protection” and “nationally important mapped
environmental interest” (Table 1: Spatial Frameworks, p39). Paragraph 200 provides as
follows:
“Wild land character is displayed in some of Scotland’s remoter upland, mountain
and coastal areas, which are very sensitive to any form of intrusive human activity
and have little or no capacity to accept new development. Plans should identify and
safeguard the character or areas of wild land as identified on the 2014 SNH map of
wild land area.”
[8] Paragraph 215 provides as follows:
“In areas of wild land (see paragraph 200), development may be appropriate in some
circumstances. Further consideration will be required to demonstrate that any
significant effects on the qualities of these areas can be substantially overcome by
siting, design or other mitigation.”
[9] The petition quotes the Planning Minister, Derek Mackay as commenting that SPP
2014 “strengthened the protection of wild land”. The answers give a fuller comment from
the Minister as follows: “We have taken steps to ensure that no wind farm developments
can go ahead in our cherished National Parks and National Scenic Areas, and we have
strengthened the protection of wild land, with new maps and inclusion directly in the SPP
and NPF3.”
[10] The local plan also includes relevant policies but these are not important for these
purposes.
The decision-making process
[11] The application was made on 19 December 2013. In accordance with the Electricity
Works (Environmental Impact Assessment)(Scotland) Regulations 2000 the applicant
submitted an Environmental Statement (ES) analysing the effects of the proposed
development. In accordance with their obligations under Schedule 8 to the Electricity Act
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and the Electricity (Applications for Consent) Regulations 1990 Scottish Ministers required
to notify the local planning authority, the Highland Council (THC) and consult with Scottish
Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA). THC’s
Head of Planning and Building Standards submitted a report to the Council dated 4 August
2015. The report took into account inter alia the environmental statement and the views of
SNH, noted below. Following consideration of the report THC decided not to object.
Scottish Ministers decided that it was not necessary to hold a public local inquiry.
[12] Scottish Ministers received 707 public representations of which 210 were taken as
objections to the development. The first petitioner was one of the objectors. Other
significant objectors included the John Muir Trust and the Mountaineering Council of
Scotland (now Mountaineering Scotland).
[13] SNH responded to the consultation by letter dated 14 March 2014. They objected to
the development on the basis of the effect that it would have on wild land. In addition they
gave advice on the landscape and visual impact of the proposal. In summary SNH
concluded that the development would significantly detract from the distinctive character of
the Sutherland landscape and people’s experience of it; have a significant adverse effect on
the “Distinctive Mountains” and “Extensive Views from Peaks and Summits’ special
qualities identified for the Ben Klibreck and Loch Choire SLA as well as raising three specific
issues in respect of landscape character and three in respect of visual amenity.
[14] There was a further consultation following the adoption of SPP 2014 to which SNH
responded by letter dated 14 April 2016. The objection on the basis of wild land was
maintained.
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The decision letter
[15] The decision letter records the details of the proposal, the application history and the
decision not to hold a public local inquiry. Under environmental matters it records that
Ministers are satisfied with the ES. This section concludes:
“Ministers have fully considered the environmental impacts of the proposed
development and have taken into consideration the environmental information,
including the Environmental Statement, and representations from consultative
bodies, including SNH, SEPA and Highland Council, and from third parties and
conclude that any impacts which may remain are outweighed by the benefits the
development will bring.”
[16] The letter then sets out the main determining issues as follows:
“
the impact of the proposed development on the environment, in particular
wild land and other landscape and natural heritage interests:
the extent to which the proposed development accords with and is supported
by Scottish Government policy:
the amount of renewable energy produced, its contribution to renewable
energy targets and its carbon payback; and
the estimated net economic benefits of the proposed development.”
The letter then sets out the policy context at some length before moving on to consider each
of the determining issues.
[17] The decision letter deals first with the issue of wild land. It records that the SNH
wild land maps were developed from a model based on the presence of five physical
attributes and the perceptual responses they evoke as follows:
Physical Attributes
Perceptual Responses
A high degree of perceived
naturalness in the setting,
especially in its vegetation cover
and wildlife, and in the natural
processes affecting the land.
A sense of sanctuary and solitude.
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The lack of modern artefacts or
structures.
Risk, or for some visitors, a sense of
awe or anxiety, depending on the
individual’s emotional response to
the setting.
Little evidence of contemporary
human uses of the land.
Perceptions that the landscape has
arresting or inspiring qualities.
Landform which is rugged, or
otherwise physically challenging.
Fulfilment from the physical
challenge required to penetrate
these places.
Remoteness and/or inaccessibility.
The letter records the consultations undertaken, the location and applicant’s view. It then
sets out SNH’s view at some length followed by that of THC. The site visits by officials and
the relevant Minister are recorded. The Ministers’ considerations in respect of wild land
against the individual attributes set out above are recorded at some length. Ministers accept
SNH’s advice in respect of wild land but are mindful that only five of the turbines are within
WLA 37 and “that significant impacts on the physical attributes of the wild land area will be
limited in extent relative to the scale of the wild land areas.” Consideration is given to
whether in respect of the five turbines the significant effects can be substantially overcome
by further re-design or re-siting of the turbines and which would then remove SNH’s
objection. Ministers conclude that the effects cannot be overcome by such measures. The
letter notes that in granting consent Ministers recognise that in respect of these turbines
situated in WLA 37 this runs contrary to the particular policies in SPP. They conclude on
this issue that it is for Ministers to balance the benefits and the impacts of the development
as a whole, in the context of different and competing policies.
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[18] Under the heading “Landscape and Visual Impact – Impact on Residential Amenity
and Tourism” the letter considers a number of particular viewpoints. They record THC’s
view that although climbers of the many hilltops in Sutherland are experiencing an
increasing cumulative effect of onshore wind energy projects there is no evidence to suggest
that the development would adversely impact on climbing or walking generally. They
consider THC’s view of the impact on the SLA and the qualities for which the area had been
designated. The letter then records:
“Although not the basis for their objection SNH advised in their response that there
would, in their opinion, be an adverse effect on the appreciation of views from a
number of popular mountain summits (including Ben Klibreck, Ben Hee, Beinn
Sgiereach and Ben More Assynt). They consider that the proposal will introduce a
prominent new feature into the wider landscape where the current focus is on
expansive views.”
The views of the Mountaineering Council for Scotland are also specifically recorded. This
section concludes:
“Ministers concur with Highland Council’s appraisal that, although there will be an
impact on (sic) from the development, many of the key viewpoints are largely
protected or unaffected including large parts of the SLA. On balance, the
development from a landscape and visual impact perspective is acceptable.”
[19] The next section in the letter deals with the renewable energy produced and the
contribution to targets and carbon payback. The letter records that Ministers are satisfied
that the wind farm will make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions. Under
net economic benefit the letter acknowledges that whilst it is difficult to precisely quantify
overall net economic benefits Ministers are satisfied that the development has the potential
for a substantial positive net economic benefit. They agree with THC that the investment
opportunities are important to an area which is regarded as fragile, given the aging and
declining population.
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[20] The letter then sets out at length the conclusions in which Ministers reprise the
foregoing issues. They note that Ministers have had to balance potentially conflicting policy
aspirations when making a determination in this case. They note in particular the fact that
five of the turbines lie within WLA 37 and the effects cannot be mitigated but conclude that
the significant impacts on the physical attributes of the wild land area will be limited in their
extent. They also take into account the contribution to renewable energy targets and net
economic benefits. They conclude that in all the circumstances and in the context of
competing policy considerations the balance of benefit is in favour of the grant of consent in
this case.
The Issues
[21] The petitioners aver that Scottish Ministers failed to give proper adequate and
intelligible reasons in two particular respects; first, in respect of the rejection of SNH’s
advice in respect of landscape and visual impact and secondly, in relation to the special
protection to be afforded to areas of wild land and the circumstances in which development
is acceptable.
[22] Counsel provided notes of argument and these were supplemented by oral
submissions. Where necessary, I will refer to those in giving the reasons for my decision.
Preliminary Points
[23] It is important to remember the role of the court in determining these issues. In The
quoted with approval the judgement of Lindblom J in R(Prideaux) v Buckinghamshire County
Council [2013] Env LR 32 at para 130:
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“It is not the role of the court to test the ecological and planning judgement made in
the course of … the decision making process. Assessing the nature extent and
acceptability of the effects that a development will have on an environment is – apart
from the limited scope for review on public law grounds – exclusively a task for the
planning decision-maker.”
Lord Reed in Tesco Stores v Dundee City Council 2012 SC 278 at paragraph 19 reinforces this
point when he commented that development plans are often full of broad statements many
of which are mutually irreconcilable so that in a particular case one must give way to
another. Such matters, he said fall within the jurisdiction of planning authorities and their
judgement can only be challenged on the ground that it is irrational or perverse.
Lack of reasons for rejecting SNH advice in respect of landscape and visual impact
[24] Mr Findlay submitted that the special position of SNH as the statutory adviser to
Scottish Ministers, meant there was a particular obligation on Scottish Ministers to give
“clear and cogent” reasons for rejecting their advice; The RSPB v Scottish Ministers 2017
CSIH 31 at paragraph 228 per Carloway LP. He expanded on that submission under
LJ at paragraphs 18 to 23; Karen Louise Oakley v South Cambridgeshire District Council
[2017] EWCA Civ 71 per Elias LJ at paragraphs 58 to 65 and Sales LJ at paragraphs 77 to 82.
Discussion
[25] The obligation of a decision maker to give reasons and the circumstances in which
that obligation may arise is one which is now well established in administrative law. In
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Lord Drummond Young examined the extent of that obligation in the planning context. He
quoted the classic statement of the form of reasoning that is required; Wordie Property
Company v Secretary of State for Scotland 1984 SLT 345 per Lord Emslie LP at 348 as follows:
“The decision must, in short, leave the informed reader and the court in no real and
substantial doubt as to what the reasons for it were and what were the material
considerations which were taken into account in reaching it.”
While Lord Carloway in the RSPB v Scottish Ministers used the phrase “clear and cogent”, I
do not think that this was an attempt to reformulate that statement. Indeed Lord Carloway
quotes the dicta of Lord Emslie with approval; paragraph 226. In considering the adequacy
of reasons it is necessary to take into account the nature of the decision in question, the
context in which it has been made, the purpose for which the reasons have been given and
the context in which they are given. Nevertheless there has to be a sense of proportion and
the court should not impose on decision makers a burden which is unreasonable; North
Lanarkshire Council v Scottish Ministers, per Lord Drummond Young at paragraph 27, quoting
Ministers 2006 SC 691 Lord Gill LJC said that the process does not require the decision maker
to deal with every issue raised by the parties; he is entitled to confine himself to the
determining issues; paragraph 30.
[26] When it comes to differing from advice given to the decision maker Lord Drummond
Young said that where the reasons in issue deal with the planning authority’s decision to
reject the views of a reporter it can be expected that these views will be relatively detailed
and they will explain clearly and in some detail why the authority differs from the reporter:
North Lanarkshire Council v Scottish Ministers, at paragraph 27. So far as specialist advice is
concerned Lord Carloway in The RSPB v Scottish Ministers (paragraph 228) said this:
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“A decision maker ought to afford the views of a statutory consultation body
Hale at para 45). He is, nevertheless, not bound by those views (Sustainable Shetland
them into account and, where the ultimate decision does not follow the advice, to
give clear and cogent reasons for the advice not being followed (see eg R (Akester) v
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2010] Env LR 33 Owen J at
para 112).”
[27] It is important to recognise the context in which these remarks are made. The
statutory consultation bodies referred to were SNH and JNCC (Joint Nature Conservation
Committee). The complaint was that the respondents had not followed their advice and not
given “cogent and compelling” reasons for not doing so. The nature of the advice was to do
with cumulative impacts on seabird species from collision with wind turbine blades. The
advice was based on highly technical evidence in an area within the specific expertise of
these bodies. Despite that background the Inner House held in the circumstances of that
case that there was no breach of the obligation to give reasons. It may also be noted that the
case of R (Akester) v Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, referred to by Lord
Carloway, similarly involved a technical assessment of the impact on threatened habitats
and species in a Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).
[28] There is also a distinction to be drawn between cases where the decision-maker is
disagreeing with a planning judgement made by a reporter or inspector and specialist
advice on an issue which would form a material consideration. In the first case there may
well have been evidence at a public local inquiry or written submissions which the reporter
has required to weigh up and assess. The reporter will be assumed to have considered all
the material considerations and the advice that is given to Ministers is a planning judgement
based on the evidence. This point is well enunciated by Laing J, quoted by Laws LJ in R (on
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Laws LJ goes on to distinguish it in that case. Where Ministers wish to disagree with that
advice, then it is incumbent upon them to give reasons why they reach a different
conclusion. North Lanarkshire Council is an example of one such case where a reporter made
a recommendation following on written submissions. The court held that the Scottish
Ministers’ decision letter did not meet the standard of intelligibility required for the
overturning of the clear and reasoned recommendation of the reporter.
[29] Pulling these strands together it seems to me that when one comes to consider the
obligation to give reasons for departing from the advice of a statutory consultee one has to
look at the nature of the advice, the context in which it is given and the relationship with the
determining issues. It is also necessary to have regard to the other evidence which may be
before the decision maker. In The RSPB v Scottish Ministers the respondents had before them
the appropriate assessment carried out by Marine Scotland Licensing Operations Team and
Marine Science Scotland. Finally decision letters need to be read as a whole; Save Britain’s
Heritage v Number 1 Poultry Limited [1991] 1 WLR 153, per Lord Bridge of Harwich at 165.
[30] Turning to the facts of this case SNH gave advice on the impact of the development
on wild land and also on landscape and visual impact. It dealt with those two issues in
slightly different ways. Their position on wild land was framed as, and taken by Scottish
Ministers as, an objection to the development. Scottish Ministers dealt with that in detail in
their decision letter (see below). Having objected on the basis of wild land, SNH then went
on to give advice on the environmental statement and on other landscape issues. That
advice is in relatively short compass taking just over a page of A4.
[31] In the decision letter Ministers make specific reference to only one aspect of the
advice as noted above. The question is whether, in not making specific reference to the
other aspects of SNH’s advice on this issue, Ministers failed to leave the informed reader,
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and the court, in no real and substantial doubt as to what the reasons for the decision were
and the material considerations which were taken into account in reaching it.
[32] In my opinion, looking at the letter as a whole it cannot be said that Scottish
Ministers have failed to give proper, adequate and intelligible reasons for reaching their
conclusion in respect of landscape and visual impact. It is dealt with over the 15th and
16th pages of the decision letter. Ministers say explicitly that they agree with the appraisal
made by THC. That is contained in the report to the Council by the Head of Planning and
Building Standards dated 4 August 2015. The report takes into account inter alia the
environmental statement and the views of SNH. The appraisal itself starts at paragraph 8.27
and continues on for another 20 paragraphs. In contrast to the advice from SNH, it is
detailed and comprehensive. Mr Findlay submitted that THC’s appraisal did not conclude
that the impacts were acceptable – that was the Ministers’ conclusion. It is true that there is
no specific conclusion to that effect but the tenor of the report, while acknowledging the
impacts, particularly on the SLA, is that the effects are localised and limited. Individual
impacts are clearly assessed and either put into a wider context or minimised. The
recommendation was that THC should raise no objection.
[33] The appraisal deals with some of SNH’s views in more detail. For example, SNH
made reference to significant adverse effects on those travelling north along the A836. They
said simply that the wind farm will be dominant where other modern features do not
dominate the view. THC deal with that in paragraph 8.45. The report acknowledges that
the impact will be significant. It goes on to consider the ES and the relevant viewpoints
(VPs). It concludes that while the significance of the impact at VP1 and 17 is a subjective
judgement, the diminishing effect of the impact of the development is evident.
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[34] SNH also highlight adverse impacts on views from a number of popular mountain
summits. It says that the proposal will introduce a prominent new feature into the wider
landscape where the current focus is on expansive views. These summits, it says, attract
walkers who want to experience these wild land qualities. THC deals with this in more
detail at paragraph 8.46. It is only the impacts from VPs 6 and 7, Ben Klibreck and Ben Hee
that are assessed as being major and the appraisal concludes that these views would only be
experienced by relatively small numbers of physically fit walkers and climbers. The
decision letter records both views, but it is clear that the Ministers prefer the assessment
from THC, noting that Ben Klibreck is one of the remotest Munros with a relatively small
number of dedicated walkers.
[35] Mr Findlay submitted that it was not open to Scottish Ministers to rely on THC’s
views over those of SNH pointing out that SNH was the statutory body charged with
advising Ministers on such issues. It is of course true that SNH are the statutory advisers,
but under section 2 of the Electricity Act 1989, the planning authority is given a special
position in the decision-making process. If the planning authority objects, and that objection
is not withdrawn, Scottish Ministers must cause a public inquiry to be held and consider the
objection with the report of the person who held the inquiry. Thus, the fact that THC did
not object, is a consideration for ministers in reaching their decision. The planning officer’s
report upon which the Council based their decision is also materially significant. Ministers
are then entitled to look at the advice that they have received from both SNH and the
planning authority along with the ES. While the assessment of landscape and visual impact
has a technical component it does not require the level of technical expertise that was
required in the assessment of impacts in The RSPB v Scottish Ministers or R (Akester) v
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. There is a subjective element to the
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appraisal. Ministers preferred the detailed assessment of THC and that is evident from the
decision letter.
[36] In my opinion the fact that ministers have preferred the views and opinion of THC to
those of SNH cannot be a matter of criticism, provided that ministers have given proper,
adequate and intelligible reasons in reaching their decision. Given the relatively brief nature
of the advice from SNH, the fact that their views were taken into account in THC’s
appraisal, the comprehensive nature of that appraisal and the clear and cogent terms of the
decision letter I am not satisfied that there was in this case any obligation to separately set
out reasons for not accepting the advice from SNH. Accordingly the petitioners have failed
to establish this ground of review.
Wild land
[37] SNH objected to the development by letter dated 14 March 2014. That was before the
adoption of the new SPP 2014. The objection was maintained in a letter of 14 April 2016 in
much the same terms but relating to WLAs rather than SAWLs. The objection is in the
following terms:
“We maintain our objection to the Creag Riabhach windfarm due to the significant
adverse effects on the qualities of the Ben Hee WLA (37) and Ben Klibreck WLA (35).
In terms of SPP para 215 we advise that it has not been demonstrated that the
significant effects on the Ben Hee WLA in which the proposal partially lies can be
substantially overcome by sighting, design or other mitigation.”
[38] That advice was specifically accepted by Scottish Ministers (page 13 of the decision
letter). They nevertheless decided to grant permission.
[39] The petitioners submit that Scottish Ministers failed to recognise the extent to which
SPP 2014 strengthened the protection of wild land and the weight that should be afforded to
an objection by its statutory landscape adviser, SNH. Alternatively they submit that
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Ministers left a material consideration out of account. Moreover, in purporting to balance
the negative effect of the windfarm on wild land, they failed to distinguish the
circumstances of this case from other cases. This is the first time that Scottish Ministers have
granted permission for commercial scale wind turbines within wild land. The petitioners
pointed to the decisions taken in respect of Glen Morie, Limekiln, Allt Duine, Glencassley and
Sallachy. They submitted that there was a need for consistency in decision-making;
JJ Gallagher Ltd v The Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions
[2002] 4 PLR 32 at paragraph 56 and 57. They submit that they have been unable to understand
why in this case Scottish Ministers did not follow the advice of SNH and granted the
application.
Discussion
[40] There has been an ongoing development in policy on wild land culminating in
SPP 2014. It seems clear that the policy contained in SPP 2014 is more rigorous in the
protection of wild land than previous policy. It is not, however, an absolute protection
against any development.
[41] Whether or not a policy is “strengthened” or weakened by the adoption of a new
policy may, of course, be of interest in helping to understand its application. However, the
issue for the court is not a qualitative assessment of present against historic policies but
whether or not the decision-maker has applied the policy in force at the time.
[42] Mr Findlay submits that the decision is inconsistent with decisions on other
applications for wind farm developments. He relied on the judgment of Deputy
Judge Bartlett QC in JJ Gallagher Ltd v Secretary of State for Local Government Transport and the
Regions. However, that case is very different to the situation here. In JJ Gallagher, the
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claimant relied on an inconsistency between the decision under review and an earlier
decision. The Deputy Judge accepted that there was an inconsistency which was not
explained as there was no mention of it in the decision letter. The application under review
was for a non-food retail park on a 10ha site. The earlier decision, which was said to be
inconsistent, was for class A1 retail development on 3.94ha of the same site.
[43] In my opinion, while the Deputy Judge’s decision may be correct I disagree with his
reasoning. The issue was not whether the decision was inconsistent with another decision
but whether the respondent had left out of account, a material consideration, namely the
previous decision. In that case, there was no evidence to show that the decision-maker had
regard to the earlier decision, even although it involved part of the same site and the
planning inspector had apparently mentioned the decision no less than 33 times in his
report.
[44] In this case, in my view, the issue is not whether there is an inconsistency or not, but
whether or not the other decisions were material considerations for Scottish Ministers to
take into account when reaching their decision in this case. Apart from pointing out that the
earlier decisions were refusals and that this was the first one where permission had been
granted, where there had been considerations of wild land, the petitioners have not put
forward any particular reason for suggesting that these decisions were material
considerations in this case. The earlier decisions all relate to windfarms and, without
reading each in detail, it appears that the issue of wild land is one of the determining issues.
However, the developments are of different sizes, in different locations, each with their own
location specific issues and environmental statements. The impact on wild land will differ
one from the other and the potential benefits of the developments will also no doubt differ.
It is not for the court to make assessments as to why decisions on individual applications
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might reach different results. These are planning judgements for ministers on the facts of
each case applying the policy in force at the time.
[45] Mr Findlay submitted that his clients were left in significant doubt as to the reasons
why this application gained consent from the Scottish Ministers and in what circumstances
consent may be granted in future on wild land areas. I cannot accept that submission. The
reasons for granting permission are set out at length in the decision letter. Ministers
acknowledged the conflict with wild land policy, limited as it was, and struck a balance with
other competing policies. In doing so they appraised the negative impacts against the
benefits they perceived flowing from the development. Having gone through that process,
Ministers reached a planning judgement taking into account all material considerations. In
my opinion, there is no error of law either in the way in which they reached their decision or
expressing their reasons for it. In short the petitioners’ position appears to be that no
windfarm development whatsoever should be allowed on designated wild land areas. That
may be, but that is a political decision and not one for the courts.
Decision
[46] For the foregoing reasons I shall sustain the respondents’ pleas in law, repel the
petitioners’ and refuse the petition. I shall reserve the question of expenses.