High Brenfield Wind Farm

Low Carbon has the target of creating 20GW of new renewable energy capacity globally. To achieve this, and to combat the effects of climate change, Low Carbon is pursuing a portfolio of wind farm development opportunities across the UK. High Brenfield is one of many locations being considered for wind farm development by Low Carbon. The proposed location has a strong wind resource, few environmental constraints, no statutory designations and is located within a commercial forestry plantation which presents an opportunity to deliver significant biodiversity enhancement.

A Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) chapter is included as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report . The LVIA was carried out in accordance with the Landscape Institute’s Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (Third Edition) and NatureScot Visual Representation of Wind Farms Guidance. Following our Scoping submission we considered feedback from the community and key consultees and have included a number of additional LVIA viewpoints as a result. The LVIA considers effects on visual receptors within the LVIA study area, including views from settlements, footpaths, cycle routes, roads and water-based receptors. Effects on residential properties within 2 km of the proposed turbines has been assessed in the Residential Visual Amenity Assessment (RVAA) which is included in an appendix to the LVIA chapter. Since sharing our Scoping layout, we have reduced the number of turbines (from 17 to 10) and the tip height of the development (from 220m to 200m) which has significantly reduced the visual impact on the settlements of Ardrishaig, Lochgilphead and Inverneill.

Residential visual amenity was assessed in accordance with the Landscape Institute’s Technical Guidance Note on Residential Visual Amenity Assessment (RVAA). The RVAA considers the potential visual effects on all properties within 2km of the proposed turbines. Where deemed necessary and appropriate we have visited specific properties to understand the potential effects on that, and surrounding properties.

The design iteration process for the project has been continuing since the Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Request was submitted in November 2023 and the scheme now comprises up 10 turbines with a maximum tip height of 200 metres.

This is a reduction in both the quantity of turbines and the tip height when compared with the Scoping scheme of 17 turbines at 220 metres to blade tip.

No. There are numerous consented, in-construction and operational UK wind farms which feature turbines with tip heights of 200m and more. For example, Kype Muir Extension in South Lanarkshire is operational with 8 turbines at 200m tip height, as is Longhill Burn Wind Farm in West Lothian.

All operational wind farms generate noise, however based on the current layout design and candidate turbine, the relevant ETSU-R-97 noise limits will not be breached at any residential property. Meeting the relevant noise limits doesn’t mean that operational noise will not be audible, but it does ensure that the levels are considered to be acceptable.

Audible operational noise from operational wind farms is fully assessed as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR).

Audible operational noise is controlled via the noise limits imposed by ETSU-R-97.

Construction noise is assessed in the Environmental Impact Assessment and will be controlled via planning conditions and the local authority Environmental Health department. There will be a commitment to meet the relevant noise limits set out in BS 5228-1:2009+A1:2014 Code of Practice for Noise and Vibration Control on Construction and Open Sites. Noise will also be considered within the Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) which will be prepared prior to construction commencing. The CEMP will contain details of how the relevant noise limits will be met during the construction phase.

We have consulted Scottish Water throughout the Environmental Impact Assessment process regarding the design of the wind farm to ensure that any potential water quality effects are appropriately mitigated. Through the design process we have removed one turbine, one crane hardstanding and 400m of track from the Kilduskland Drinking Water Protection Area (DWPA), when compared with our previous layout iteration. A bespoke, enhanced drainage strategy has been developed for construction works within the DWPA with protection of the catchment considered to be a hard constraint to the Proposed Development. Scottish Water has published Guidance for development of infrastructure within DWPA’s which has formed the minimum standards of our drainage design.

A targeted Private Water Supplies Risk Assessment was undertaken which reviewed in detail every known Private Water Supply within the development area. The Outline CEMP, produced as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment, sets out in detail the commitments, safeguards and precautions to minimise potential pollution risk from the development during the construction phase.

A bespoke drainage strategy has been developed for the site in accordance with industry standard guidance which covers potential hydrological / pollution impacts to the lnverneil Burn Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Kilduskland Reservoir DWPA.

Shadow Flicker effects are usually only experienced under very specific climatic conditions, however shadow flicker was fully assessed within the Environmental Impact Assessment Report. The Scottish Government’s ‘Onshore wind turbines: planning advice’ and industry standard guidance states that shadow flicker effects may be experienced within a distance equal to 10x rotor diameter from the turbine. Therefore in the case of High Brenfield Wind Farm the Environmental Impact Assessment shadow flicker study area will be 1,620m, which excludes most residential properties and Ardrishaig Primary School.

We have completed a thorough program of baseline environmental surveys and have assessed any impacts resulting from the development within the Environmental Impact Assessment Report. The site is currently operated as a commercial coniferous forestry plantation, which is of low ecological value in terms of biodiversity. Therefore, Low Carbon believes that High Brenfield Wind Farm presents an opportunity to significantly enhance biodiversity across the site through native tree planting and forest to bog restoration.

The government, local authority and police manage the impacts on roads. Low Carbon will be subject to their guidance and management and will provide assessment in the Transport chapter of the Environmental Impact Assessment report.

We anticipate turbines being delivered by sea into Campbeltown Harbour, before travelling north along the A83 to the site access location. It is expected that turbine deliveries and construction traffic will access the wind farm site via a new/upgraded existing access track which will adjoin the A83 south of Ardrishaig and north of Inverneill. Please see the updated Transportation Route figure above.

Low Carbon will seek to minimise the level of traffic generated by the development through measures such as maximising the use of on-site borrow pits to reduce the amount of stone that is brought to site by road and these details will be contained in the Traffic Management Plan (TMP). The Proposed Development will temporarily generate additional traffic during the construction period which will be assessed in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report.

The instances of landslides on both the A83 and the A816 to the north of Lochgilphead are directly linked to weather events, and whilst unfortunate for all who are impacted, the responsibility for management and maintenance of these roads lies with Transport Scotland and Argyll and Bute Council respectively. The wind farm related traffic will not cause further landslides.

Batteries do not feature within the High Brenfield Wind Farm Section 36 submission.

The presence of the 275kV transmission line which transects the eastern side of the proposed development site from north to south has no material benefit to the project and is not a factor in the site’s suitability for wind farm development.

A distribution grid connection application has been submitted to the distribution network operator and a connection offer has been accepted for the Proposed Development.

We are able to confirm that the development will connect into the new Craig Murrail substation located north of Lochgilphead.

A distribution grid connection offer has been accepted for the Proposed Development with a connection date of 2034, however we are hopeful that this date can be improved as a result of the Clean Power 30 grid connections reform.

Industry research has been conducted in relation to the impact of wind farms on residential property values. Research commissioned by the Scottish Government and led by ClimateXChange concluded that there was no “consistent evidence of a negative impact of wind turbines on house price growth”. Further research has been conducted into this matter and findings are presented within the Socio-economic, Tourism and Recreation (SeTR) assessment within the Environmental Impact Assessment Report.

There is no evidence that wind farms adversely affect tourism.

A research study conducted by BiGGAR Economics in 2021: Wind Farms & Tourism Trends in Scotland: Evidence from 44 Wind Farms collated evidence in order to establish whether there was a link between wind farm development and tourism trends.

The study concluded that there is no evidence of a link between wind farm development and trends in tourism, and in many cases the tourism industry grew at the same time as wind farm development activity increased.

Low Carbon submitted a Section 36 application for High Brenfield Wind Farm in June 2025.

Low Carbon are committed to supporting the communities that neighbour our wind farms and commits to delivering £5,000 per megawatt of installed capacity per year (index linked) for the wind farm’s operational lifetime, in line with Scottish Government good practice guidance.

At this early stage in the development process it is important to stress that no decision has been made about how the funds from High Brenfield Wind Farm will be administered and distributed. This decision will only be taken after an extended period of consultation with the communities that neighbour the wind farm. Consultation with a wide range of stakeholders is a cornerstone of both Low Carbon’s approach, and the Scottish Government’s good practice principles in delivering benefits from wind farms.

If approved, High Brenfield Wind Farm will provide direct benefits to the local area through a long-term community benefit fund which also opens up opportunities to develop and deliver green skills and jobs in the local area. The project team would expect to explore opportunities for investment in skills development and utilisation of the local supply chain to maximise the positive economic impact locally.

Low Carbon is committed to offering shared community ownership in line with Scottish Government Best Practice and it is our intention to work with community groups to explore community shared ownership opportunities. We have issued a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to a collaborative investment group made up of community organisations located within the host and neighbouring community council areas.

Funding, advice and support is available for communities considering shared ownership, and we would encourage any interested parties to visit the Local Energy Scotland website for more information.

https://localenergy.scot/

The potential for adverse effects on domestic television reception is greatly diminished post digital switchover, which completed across the UK in 2012 and therefore the likelihood of significant effects is minimal. In the unlikely event that properties in this area experienced adverse effects on terrestrial TV reception, alternative signals are available from the Bellanoch and Torosay transmitters, to the north, which would be unaffected by the wind farm.

We are eager to explore ideas with Ardrishaig Community Council regarding opportunities for enhanced public access and recreational facilities. We will work with the Argyll and Bute Council’s Access Officer to ensure the relevant access right are maintained.

As part of the Environmental Impact Assessment Low Carbon will be required to The Proposed Development is located within a commercial forestry plantation and it is anticipated that the site will remain a commercial forestry plantation throughout the operational life of the wind farm. Trees will need to be felled in order to facilitate construction of the wind farm infrastructure, however any felling will be compensated with tree planting either on or off site. Low Carbon has surveyed areas of land with landholdings adjacent to the site through which access to the site will be facilitated, in addition to an area of land located near Lochgilphead Golf Club, to assess their suitability for tree planting.

There may be occasions in which the level of electricity generation significantly exceeds the rate of electricity consumption. In these instances it is possible that the wind farm is curtailed in order to balance the electricity grid and avoid outages. When the wind farm is curtailed, and therefore unable to export electricity onto the grid, the developer is reimbursed for lost revenue.

Onshore wind is one of the cheapest sources of electricity in the UK. Cheaper to produce than gas, nuclear, coal and other renewable technologies. Wind resource is plentiful in Scotland and can be utilised to provide security of supply and add to the renewable energy generation mix. The production of onshore wind energy assists the Scottish Government in achieving their carbon reduction targets, delivers significant economic benefit to communities in the form of community benefit and community shared ownership, as well as creating jobs, supply chain opportunities and significant business rates.

The Environmental Impact Assessment Report is now available on the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit website at Scottish Government - Energy Consents Unit - Application Details. This will be available publicly when Low Carbon submit the Section 36 application.

A Section 36 application has been submitted to the Scottish Ministers, representations can be made via the Energy Consents Unit online portal.

At this stage, Low Carbon would encourage everyone with a view on the proposals to participate in the consultation process. Representations can be made to Scottish Ministers via the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit, by email to representations@gov.scot; or by post to Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU, identifying the proposal and specifying the grounds for representation.

The consultation window is due to close on Monday 21st July 2025.