Isle of Skye experts are challenging prevailing industry claims that wind farm developments do not significantly impact tourism, asserting that current research often overlooks the extensive and disruptive construction periods. This contention emerged during a recent inquiry into the proposed Ben Aketil wind farm on Skye, Scotland’s second most visited destination outside Edinburgh.

Developers, including Scottish Power Renewables, which operates the UK’s largest wind farm, Whitelee, frequently cite studies indicating minimal long-term negative effects on tourism once projects are operational. Graeme Blackett of BiGGAR Economics, speaking on behalf of Nadara, the Ben Aketil developer, reiterated this stance at the inquiry. He presented his research, stating, “There is no evidence to suggest that landscape and visual effects have an impact on tourist behaviour,” based on decades of studies in rural areas where landscape drives tourism.

However, Faye Macleod, a local accountant on Skye, directly disputed this narrow focus. Macleod emphasized that impact assessments frequently neglect the multi-year construction phase, which can span “at least five years” for a single project, and potentially longer with cumulative developments. She highlighted the significant challenges posed by increased Abnormal Indivisible Loads (AILs) and other heavy construction traffic on Skye’s limited and often poorly maintained road infrastructure. These routes serve as critical lifelines for island communities and supply chains for tourist businesses, frequently experiencing congestion even during regular peak seasons.

Macleod argued that Skye, as a uniquely positioned island heavily reliant on scenic tourism, cannot be compared directly to mainland rural areas in impact studies. Its remote rural classification by the Scottish Government, despite its high visitor numbers, underscores its distinct vulnerability. “Skye is an island and that is not the same as the mainland,” she stated, expressing “grave concerns” about the cumulative impact of multiple proposed wind farms, including three new projects recently lodged for the same area as Ben Aketil.

The inquiry underscores a growing tension between the imperative for renewable energy expansion and the preservation of local economies and environments. The debate on Skye highlights the need for more comprehensive impact assessments that account for the full lifecycle of wind farm projects, including their often-protracted construction phases, and consider the specific socio-economic and infrastructural sensitivities of host regions.