High Brenfield Wind Farm

Low Carbon has the target of creating 20GW of new renewable energy capacity globally by 2030, in order to combat the effects of climate change, and to achieve this Low Carbon is pursuing a portfolio of wind farm development opportunities across the UK. High Brenfield is one of many proposed development 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. A full Environmental Impact Assessment will be undertaken by qualified independent specialists before any planning application is made to the Scottish Ministers.

A Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) chapter will be included as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR). The LVIA will be 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 have considered feedback from Ardrishaig Community Council, Argyll & Bute Council and NatureScot and have included a number of additional LVIA viewpoints as a result. The LVIA will consider 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 will be assessed in the Residential Visual Amenity Assessment (RVAA) that will be included in an appendix to the LVIA chapter. Since sharing our Scoping layout, we have reduced the number of turbines (from 17 to 14) and the tip height of the development (from 220m to 200m) which has reduced the visual impact on the settlements of Ardrishaig, Lochgilphead and Inverneill.

Residential visual amenity will be assessed in accordance with the Landscape Institute’s Technical Guidance Note on Residential Visual Amenity Assessment (RVAA). The RVAA will consider the potential visual effects on all properties within 2km of the proposed turbines. Where the potential for a significant visual effect is identified, a separate judgement will made about whether the Proposed Development would change the visual amenity to such an extent that it would become overbearing and a matter of Residential Amenity. Where deemed necessary and appropriate we have visited specific properties to understand the potential effects on that, and surrounding properties and may seek to visit further properties if required.

The design iteration process for the project has been continuing since the Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Request was submitted in November 2023 and and the scheme now comprises 14 turbines at 200 metres to blade tip.

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 will be 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 are continuing to consult Scottish Water 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 DWPA, when compared with our previous layout iteration. A bespoke, enhanced drainage strategy is being developed for construction works within the DWPA with protection of the catchment considered to be a hard constraint to the Proposed Development. Scottish Water have published Guidance for development of infrastructure within DWPA’s which will form the minimum standards to be utilized in the drainage design.

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

A bespoke drainage strategy is to be developed for the site in accordance with industry standard guidance and will cover potential hydrological / pollution impacts to the lnverneill Burn Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Kilduskland Reservoir Drinking Water Protection Area (DWPA).

Shadow Flicker effects are usually only experienced under very specific climatic conditions, however shadow flicker will be fully assessed within the EIAR. 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 EIA shadow flicker study area will be 1,550m, which excludes most residential properties and Ardrishaig Primary School.

We have completed a thorough program of baseline environmental surveys and will assess any impacts resulting from the development within the EIAR. 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 peat 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. We are continuing to assess two different access options (see Transport and Access figure on the High Brenfield Wind Farm website) in order to identify the best solution. We will confirm our chose site access location in due course.

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.

We anticipate turbines being delivered by sea into Campbeltown Harbour, before travelling north along the A83 to the site access location. We are continuing to assess two different access options (see Transport and Access figure on the High Brenfield Wind Farm website) in order to identify the best solution. We will confirm our chose site access location in due course

It is not currently anticipated that batteries will 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 grid connection application has been submitted for the Proposed Development. Once a grid connection offer is accepted, we can confirm the location at which the wind farm will connect to the electricity grid.

Initial discussions with the grid operators indicate that the development may connect into the new Craig Murrail substation located north of Lochgilphead.

A grid connection application has been submitted for the Proposed Development, however an offer has not yet been accepted. Early discussions indicate that the grid connection date is likely to be in 2034 due to wider transmission grid reinforcement works.

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 will be conducted into this matter and findings will be presented within the Socio-economic, Tourism and Recreation (SeTR) assessment.

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 is holding second public exhibitions in October 2024, and feedback from this exhibition will be used to inform our final design.

Low Carbon is aiming to submit a Section 36 application in Q1 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.

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 demonstrate biodiversity net gain (i.e. that biodiversity is improved as a result of the development, in comparison to the pre-commencement baseline survey). There are multiple ways in which biodiversity net gain can be achieved, which will be assessed within the Environmental Impact Assessment. One method which will be explored is the planting of native woodland in suitable locations.

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 EIAR can only be drafted once the wind farm layout is frozen, which we haven’t done yet as we wanted to incorporate feedback from the community into our design process.

Once the design is frozen, the EIAR can be drafted and it will be available publicly when we submit our Section 36 application.

Following the submission of the application, the full EIAR and all supporting technical appendices, assessments and planning documents will be freely and publicly available through both the Energy Consents Unit and the Argyll and Bute Council Planning Portals.

Feedback on the proposal can be supplied directly to Low Carbon via our online feedback form which can be found on the High Brenfield Wind Farm website. Feedback can also be provided in-person at our second public exhibitions in October 2024. Once a Section 36 application has been submitted to the Scottish Ministers, representations can also be made via the Energy Consents Unit online portal.

Please note: Any comments made to Low Carbon at this stage of the planning process are not formal representations to Scottish Ministers.

If Low Carbon submits a Section 36 Application, there will be an opportunity to make representations to Scottish Ministers during the statutory consultation period (following submission of the Application).