Sindi Mules

The crofters, living near Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, had appealed the decision to the Inner House, having first appealed to the Scottish Land Court.

The Court of Session held that the original determination by the Crofting Commission decisions was correct as a matter of law and agreed with the decision of the Land Court.

However, the court observed that the needs of crofting communities in remote areas of Scotland have been changing.

Crofting has moved on from livestock grazing, small scale food and vegetable production, with today’s townships adapting to an array of technologies to manage the land.

However, erecting wind turbines, as the law currently stands, and at least without landowner consent, is detrimental to the rights of the landowner which stretches back generations.

The commission was initially represented by its in-house legal team, but upon appeal instructed Balfour and Manson’s Sindi Mules.

Ms Mules said: “The main question under scrutiny was around the use of land. Under current legislation and crofters’ rights in common grazing, a development such as erecting wind turbines falls within the category of detriment to the landowner.

“It is interesting to note the observation made by the Lord President who delivered the Opinion of the Court that the needs of the crofting communities are not identical to those in the late Victorian era, something that is not reflected in current legislation.

“Underlining the shift to modern technology, due to pandemic restrictions, the Court held an entirely virtual hearing enabling remote crofting townships to observe the proceedings in real-time via a video conferencing platform.”