Full 285603.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Forss Wind Farm Extension Environmental Statement Contents Copyright and Disclaimer Copies of the full ES may be viewed during normal opening hours at the following locations: This document remains the copyright of RES UK and Ireland Ltd (“RES”) and of its agents. No element may be reproduced without the prior permission of RES. Thurso Library Highland Council Service Point Planning & Building Standards Office RES shall not be deemed to make any representation regarding the accuracy, completeness, Davidsons Lane Rotterdam Street Market Square methodology, reliability or current status of any material contained in this document (“Report”), nor shall Thurso Thurso Wick RES assume any liability with respect to any matter or information referred to or contained in the KW14 7AF KW14 8AB KW1 4AB Report, nor shall any person relying on the Report (“Recipient”) or any party to whom the Recipient 01847 893237 01349 886606 (Council Service Centre) 01955 607 751 provides the Report or information have any claim against RES arising out of such Report. Preface Alternatively, copies of this document are available from RES priced £250 each however a CD version This document forms Volume 2 of the Environmental Statement (ES) containing written text and figures. may be purchased at a cost of £25. Volume 1 is the A4 Non-Technical Summary. Requests for this document should be made in writing, including payment to RES UK & Ireland Ltd, 3rd This ES has been prepared by RES in consultation with the Highland Council and in collaboration with Floor, STV, Pacific Quay, Glasgow, G51 1PQ, Tel.: 0141 404 5500. the following specialist consultants: Ornithological Landscape & Visual Hydrological & Avian Vantage Assessment Assessment Hydrogeology Survey Work Assessment Dr. Steve Percival Horner & Mclennan Robert Swann Chris Baker Ecology Consulting No 1 Dochfour North of Scotland Business Centre CB Consulting Swallow Ridge Barn Ornithological Services Dochgarroch Oleander Old Cassop 17 St Vincent Road Inverness IV 3 8GY Cairneyhill Road Durham Tain Bankfoot DH6 4QB IV19 1JR Perth PH1 4AG Cultural Heritage Avian & Ecology Assessment Survey Work CFA Archaeology Alba Ecology Ltd South Meiklemoss Archibald Hope Collieston House Ellon Eskmills Park Aberdeenshire Musselburgh AB41 8SB EH21 7PQ Volume 2 Contents Page 1 Forss Wind Farm Extension Environmental Statement Contents CONTENTS 4.3 Screening and Scoping 2 Chapter Title Page 4.4 Community Consultation 2 No. 4.5 Baseline Assessment 3 4.6 Assessment of Env ironmental Effects and their Significance 3 1 Introduction 4.7 Mitigation 3 1.1 The Application 1 4.8 Non -Technical Summary 4 1.2 The Applicant 1 1.3 The History of Forss Wind Farm Development 2 5 Landscape & Visual Assessment 1.4 The Environmental Statement 2 5.1 Introduction 1 1.5 Rationale for the Project - the Environmental Need for Greenhouse Gas Reduct ion 2 5.2 Definition of Study Area 2 1.6 Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change 3 5.3 Methodology 2 1.7 Greenhouse Gases and Electricity Production 3 5.4 Assessment Criteria and Definitions 3 1.8 Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Reduction 3 5.5 Planning and Legislative Definitions 7 1.9 Energy Payback and Recycling 4 5.6 Landscape Design Considerations 8 1.10 Government Environmental and Energy Policy 4 5.7 The Landscape Resource Baseline Description 9 1.11 The Renewa bles Obligation (Scotland) Order, 2002 7 5.8 Assessment of Impacts on the Landscape Resource 14 1.12 Scotland's Renewable Energy Resource 8 5.9 Visual Amenity Baseline Description 20 1.13 Contribution of the Forss III Wind Farm 8 5.10 Assessment of Impacts on Visual A menity 21 1.14 Non -Technical Summary 8 5.11 Viewpoint Assessment 21 1.15 References 9 5.12 Landscape and Scenic Designations Assessment 36 5.13 Sequential Assessment 37 2 Design Development 5.14 Cumulative Effects 47 2.1 Introduction 1 5.15 Conclusion 64 2.2 Design adopted by RES 1 5.16 Non -Technical Summary 65 2.3 General Chronology of Design Development at Forss Wind Farm Extension 1 5.17 References 66 2.4 Scoping/Screening and Project Definition Layout Stages 2 2.5 Overview of Design Constraints 2 6 Ecology Assessment –Habitats, Flora & Fauna 2.6 Development of Final Turbine Layout 3 6.1 Introduction 1 2.7 Design of On -Site Track Routing 4 6.2 Policy Context 1 2.8 Location of Infrastructure 4 6.3 Baseline Studies 2 2.9 Non -Technical Summary 5 6.4 Assessment of Effects 7 2.10 References 5 6.5 Impact Assessment 11 6.6 Mitigation 13 3 Description of the Project 6.7 Cumulative Impacts 15 3.1 Introduction 1 6.8 Summary of Effects 18 3.2 Physical content 1 6.9 Non -Technical Summary 18 3.3 Overview of Proposed Development 1 6.10 References 19 3.4 Turbine, Electrical and Control Elements 2 3.5 Cons truction Elements 4 7 Ornithology Assessment 3.6 Non -Technical Summary 9 7.1 Introduction 1 7.2 Assessment Methodology 1 4 Environmental Impact Assessment 7.3 Baseline Studies 1 4.1 Introduction 1 7.4 Baseline Description 4 4.2 The EIA Regulations (Scotland) 1999 1 7.5 Assessment of Potential Primary Effects 8 Volume 2 Contents Page 2 Forss Wind Farm Extension Environmental Statement Contents 7.6 Requirements of Mitigation 11 10.16 Vibration 18 7.7 Summary of Effects 11 10.17 Aerodynamic M odulation 19 7.8 Proposed Monitoring 12 10.18 Construction Noise 19 7.9 Conclusion: Statement of Significance 12 10.19 Conclusions 20 7.10 Non -Technical Summary 13 10.20 Non -Technical Summary 20 7.11 References 13 10.21 References 21 8 Cultural Heritage Assessment 11 Electromagnetic Interference and Aviation 8.1 Introduction 1 11.1 Introduction 1 8.2 Planning and Legislative Background 1 11.2 Television Reception 1 8.3 Methodology 3 11.3 Radio Reception 2 8.4 Baseline Studies 3 11.4 Microwave Communications 2 8.5 Impacts and Mitigation 5 11.5 Aviation Safeguarding 2 8.6 Assessment of Construction Effects 8 11.6 Mitigation Measures 3 8.7 Assessment of Operational Effects 9 11.7 Non -Technical Summary 3 8.8 Non -Technical Summary 14 11.8 References 3 8.9 References 14 12 Access, Transport & Traffic 9 Hydrology and Hydrogeology Assessment 12.1 Introduction 1 9.1 Introduction 1 12.2 Guidance on Methodology 1 9.2 Methodology 1 12.3 Nature and Volume of Traffic a nd Tools Used for Assessing Routing Feasibility 2 9.3 Baseline Studi es 3 12.4 Public Highway Route 5 9.4 Baseline Description 5 12.5 Assessment of Impacts of Traffic Levels 5 9.5 Assessment of Effects 10 12.6 Mitigation Measures 7 9.6 Summary of Effects 21 12.7 Non -Technical Summary 10 9.7 Statement of Significance 22 12.8 References 10 9.8 Non -Technical Summary 22 13 Socio Economics 10 Acoustic Assessment 13.1 Introduction & Scope 1 10.1 Introduction 1 13.2 Legislation & Policy Context 1 10.2 General Overview of Wind Turbine Noise 1 13.3 Assessment Methodology 1 10.3 Leg islative Framework and Guidance 2 13.4 Economic Assessment 2 10.4 Methodology 2 13.5 Recreation Assessment 6 10.5 Noise Emission Characteristics of the Wind Turbine 2 13.6 Amenity of Local Residents 8 10.6 Location of Wind turbines 5 13.7 Education 8 10.7 Location of Nearest Neighbours 5 13.8 Non -Technical Summary 8 10.8 Calculation of Noise Levels at Receivers 5 13.9 References 9 10.9 Simplified Noi se Assessment Procedure 7 10.10 Indicative Background Noise 8 14 Health and Safety 10.11 Acoustic Acceptance Criteria 9 14.1 Introduction 1 10.12 Acoustic Assessment 10 14.2 Ensuring Safe Construction - General Approach 1 10.13 Other Aspects of Noise 18 14.3 General Turbine Safety - Design 1 10.14 Low Frequency Noise 18 14.4 Ensuring Safe Operation 1 10.15 Infrasound 18 14.5 Ensuring Safety During Lightning Conditions and Icing Conditions 2 Volume 2 Contents Page 3 Forss Wind Farm Extension Environmental Statement Contents 14.6 Ensuring Public Safety 2 5.17 Viewpoint 3 - Existing view and wireline 14.7 Shad ow Casting and Reflected Light 2 5.18 Viewpoint 3 - Photomontage 5.19 Viewpoint 4 - Location Pla n 14.8 Non -Technical Summary 4 5.20 Viewpoint 4 - Existing view and wireline 14.9 References 5 5.21 Viewpoint 4 - Photomontage 5.22 Viewpoint 5 - Location Plan Appendices 5.23 Viewpoint 5 - Existing view and wireline 5.24 Viewpoint 5 - Photomontage Appendix A Calculation of Environmental B enefits 5.25 Viewpoint 6 - Location Plan Appendix B Typical Wind Turbine Specification 5.26 Viewpoint 6 - Existing view and wireline Appendix C List of Consultees /Scoping Response 5.27 Viewpoint 6 - Photomontage 5.28 Viewpoint 7 - Location Plan Appendix D Public Exhibition Newsletter 5.29 Viewpoint 7 - Existing view and wireline Appendix E I Bats & Habitats Surveys 5.30 Viewpoint 7 - Photomontage Appendix Eii Mammals Survey 5.31 Viewpoint 8 - Location Plan 5.32 Viewpoint 8 - Existing view and wireline Appendix F Acoustic Detail 5.33 Viewpoint 8 - Photomontage Appendix G Collision Risk Data - Ornithology 5.34 Viewpoint 9 - Location plan Appendix H Cultural Heritage Gazetteer 5.35 Viewpoint 9 - Existing view and wireline 5.36 Viewpoint 9 - Photomotage 5.37 Viewpoint 10 - Location plan 5.38 Viewpoint 10 - Existing view and wireline FIGURES 5.39 Viewpoint 10 - Photomotage Figure No. ES Title RES D rawing No. 5.40 Viewpoint 11 - Location plan 1.1 Regional Context Map 01988D2209 -01 5.41 Viewpoint 11 - Existing view and wireline 2.1 Land Boundary 01988D2505 -05 5.42 Viewpoint 11 - Photomotage 2.2 Combined Constraints 01988D2101 -11 5.43 Viewpoint 12 - Location plan 2.3 Project Definition Layout (4 x 100m tip) 01988D2208 -01 5.44 Viewpoint 12 - Existing view and wireline 3.1 Proposed Infrastructure Layout and Grid Connect 01988D1001 -12 5.45 Viewpoint 1 2 - Photomontage 3.2 Front & Side