A great deal of work has been undertaken during 2009 to develop the proposal including feasibility and technical studies to review the area of interest, identify constraints and to model a possible wind farm layout design. As part of this process, independent consultants were engaged to report on the following technical areas:

• Flora and fauna
• Cultural heritage
• Traffic and transport
• Geology and hydrology
• Landscape and visual
• Socio-economic
• Noise
• Electromagnetic interference

The results of the feasibility study have now been reviewed and are inconclusive at this stage.  In particular, the assessment of the wind resource requires further investigation before a wind farm layout can be finalised. A temporary wind monitoring mast (meteorological monitoring mast) which was installed in November this year will provide data to assist in further reviewing the wind resource for the site and determine a turbine layout.

With these technical issues and community considerations outstanding, the lodging of a planning application will now be deferred for up to 12 months. Further studies and assessment of the project’s viability will now extend into 2010. It is unlikely that results will be available until after mid-next year.

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