'Shadow flicker' complaint sparks shutdowns of Aviva's wind turbine in Perth
The 77-metre tall turbine, next to the insurance company's office at Pitheavlis, was officially opened in November last year.
Aviva says the turbine, along with existing solar panels at the site, should generate 100% of its electricity demands.
But it has already suffered a setback after Perth and Kinross Council found it had breached a planning condition.
The council says it received a 'justified' complaint from a resident over the structure's 'shadow flicker'.
This is a visual phenomenon where rotating wind turbine blades cast moving shadows on sunny days, causing annoyance to neighbours.
The length and position of the shadow and frequency of the flicker depend on factors such as wind speed and direction, cloud cover, illumination from the sun and its position in the sky.
Aviva's 18-page shadow flicker management plan – published by 350 Renewables – says such conditions can exist in Perth between late September and mid-March.
'During these times,' it says, 'if the illuminance from the sun is sufficient to cast shadows, the turbine should stop.
'Otherwise, the turbine can keep operating.'
The council received evidence on February 6 that Aviva had breached a condition of its planning consent relating to shadow flicker.
It opened an enforcement action that ruled the complaint was 'justified'.
Council planning officer Sean Panton wrote: 'A breach of planning control has occurred and the developer implemented additional shutdown protocols voluntarily and in line with the shadow flicker management plan.
'The breach of condition 18, in so far as we are aware, has been resolved entirely.'
It is not known how often Aviva has to invoke shutdowns due to shadow flicker, or the extent these have affected energy production at Pitheavlis.
Nor is it known how many neighbours have complained about the problem.
The turbine was approved by Perth and Kinross Council in 2022.
Residents admitted they were shocked by its size when it was being installed in October 2024.
When First Minister John Swinney opened the structure the following month, it was revealed it had been named Aurora by pupils at Viewlands Primary School in Perth.
In December last year, The Courier reported that Aviva had been told of Perth and Kinross Council's safety concerns over its plan to emblazon the structure with a large company logo.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times
3 days ago
- Times
Ian Blackford rules out replacing Kate Forbes in key seat
Ian Blackford has ruled himself out of the Holyrood contest for the seat being vacated by the deputy first minister Kate Forbes. However, the former SNP Westminster leader has not closed the door on a future comeback, stating he believes he can still 'serve my party and my country'. Blackford, 64, had been approached by local SNP activists and senior party figures to seek the nomination for the Skye, Lochaber & Badenoch constituency, a move that would have returned him to an area he previously represented at Westminster. In a statement, he confirmed that after 'careful consideration' he had decided against putting his name forward for the 2026 election. • Kate Forbes exit leaves question: who can replace John Swinney? The announcement brings an end to speculation that began last week when Forbes, 34, revealed she would not be seeking re-election. The deputy first minister cited a desire to have more children as her reason for stepping down, telling constituents in a video message that it was 'time for something new for me, and somebody new for you'. Blackford's decision to step away from the contest will open the field to other candidates. The Highlands constituency, which Forbes won with a majority of more than 15,000 votes, is considered a stronghold for the party. However, the Liberal Democrats are expected to mount a strong challenge. • All eyes on John Swinney as Kate Forbes's departure leaves big questions Blackford, a former investment banker and fund manager, left the House of Commons before last July's general election, where the new seat of Inverness, Skye & West Ross-shire was subsequently won by the Liberal Democrats' Angus MacDonald. Blackford had held the area since 2015, when he the former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy. Despite his decision not to stand for Holyrood, Blackford's statement left the door ajar for a return to politics. 'I do believe that I am still of an age that I can serve my party and my country,' he said. He added that he viewed the 'journey to independence as being very much unfinished business' and that he wanted to contribute to the debate on the 'economics of independence'. He concluded: 'Working with others, I do want to participate in that debate on our future and perhaps, in the time ahead, there may be future opportunities to return to frontline politics.' A close confidant of the former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, Blackford was unseated as Westminster leader by Stephen Flynn in late 2022. He has been pursuing business interests since leaving parliament.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Aviva took six months to transfer my pension - and it cost me £7,000: SALLY SORTS IT
I had three pensions with Aviva worth £140,607 that I wanted to transfer to investment firm Vanguard. I made the request on November 27 last year, as I wanted the money in my Vanguard account in good time by April 5, 2025, so I could have some income from it in that tax year. However, this was not possible because Aviva delayed transferring them. Please can you help? G.W., Maidstone, Kent. Sally Hamilton replies: When you asked to transfer your pensions from Aviva, Vanguard suggested it would take around four to eight weeks. This gave you plenty of breathing space – or so you thought – to get the transaction done, so you could take an income from the transferred pot before the tax year ended. But it wasn't until April 2 – with just three days left of the last tax year – that Aviva finally told you by letter that the payment had been issued, including £2,638 in late interest. You checked your Aviva account online and found it was indeed closed, with no funds remaining. But to your frustration it had not reached Vanguard. The delays continued. Two weeks (and nine chasing phone calls to Aviva customer service) later, Aviva revealed that the payment couldn't be made as the bank had not authorised it. It gave no explanation but told you not to worry as it would go through in a couple of days. It didn't. Your blood pressure climbed when staff said it would take four weeks to investigate your complaint. After four weeks your frustration was off the charts, when they told you they were still looking into it and asked you to allow them another four weeks. All this time you had neither access to your pension – and nor was it invested. Every time you tried to speak to someone with authority, you ended going round in circles, with calls either not returned – or missed – and when you called back, the manager who had left you a message wasn't known to the call handler. It was time for me to give Aviva a serious prod. Within a few days Aviva finally got a grip on your case and your money landed with Vanguard a few days later. Details were not given of what exactly went wrong except the company admitted a blunder. A spokesman says: 'We are extremely sorry for the delay in transferring Mr W's pensions, and the distress this has caused him. 'This was due to an error on our part. I can confirm that the full payment has now been transferred and received by Vanguard.' Last week, Aviva finally completed a loss assessment after liaising with Vanguard. This took several weeks of to-ing and fro-ing between it and Vanguard. In the end, taking into account late and lost interest, plus potential tax liability faced by you for taking the money in the current tax year rather than last year as planned, plus £750 as an apology, you have received total recompense of £8,096. Write to Sally Hamilton at Sally Sorts It, Money Mail, Northcliffe House, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or email sally@ — include phone number, address and a note addressed to the offending organisation giving them permission to talk to Sally Hamilton. Please do not send original documents as we cannot take responsibility for them. No legal responsibility can be accepted by the Daily Mail for answers given.
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Aviva share price highest since 2007 after profit jumps by a fifth
Insurance giant Aviva has said its profits surged by a fifth over the first half of 2025, sending its share price to the highest level since before the 2008 financial crisis. The latest results come as it said its tie-up with rival Direct Line was 'well under way'. The company reported an operating profit of £1.1 billion for the first six months of 2025. This was an increase of 22% compared with the same period a year ago. Aviva said it was driven primarily by growth in its UK and Ireland general insurance business and wealth and retirement. General insurance premiums – how much a customer pays for an insurance policy – leapt by 9% year-on-year to total £4.1 billion across the region. Profits for the division soared by 50% thanks to strong underwriting activity and improved returns of investment in the UK. But this was partly offset by the impact of Storm Eowyn in Ireland, where record-breaking winds cut electricity supplies to hundreds of thousands of homes, schools and businesses. Aviva's share price jumped by about 4% on Thursday to hit the highest level since late 2007, before the global financial crisis. Aviva completed its £3.7 billion takeover of Direct Line last month. Aviva said that merging the two companies was now 'well under way' adding that it was 'moving at speed to improve performance, drive financial benefits and unlock the full potential of the combined business'. Chief executive Amanda Blanc said: 'The combined business is a UK market leader with over 21 million customers, or four in 10 adults, and we are confident the deal will contribute significantly to Aviva's future growth.' Richard Hunter, head of markets at interactive investor, said the takeover will 'further cement Aviva's leading positions particularly in the home and car insurance markets'. He said: 'While car insurance has seen a substantial increase in premiums to the exasperation of many consumers, the space has been affected by both higher average new car prices as well as the costly nature of repairing increasingly complex and technologically advanced vehicles.' Meanwhile Admiral, which sells car, home, travel and pet insurance, also said that its pre-tax profit soared by 69% over the first half of 2025, compared to 2024. This was driven by its UK insurance division winning more sales and customers for motor policies.
