Section 0 – Ardmore to Edinbane Route 0A – Existing Route
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Section 0 – Ardmore to Edinbane Route 0A – Existing Route Description: Broadly following the route of the existing trident OHL, from Ardmore substation to Dunvegan substation. The route crosses to the north / eastern side of the B886 road and passes to the rear of crofts and properties on the Waternish peninsula. The route then follows the A850 and a minor road to reach Dunvegan substation. Review of Environmental Constraints: Natural Heritage Topics Potential Constraints RAG Rating Designations This route option does not pass through any sites designated for Nature Conservation. The marine waters surrounding this coastline are designated as a SAC; the Inner Hebrides and the Minches SAC is designated for Harbour porpoise. The proposed development G is not anticipated to result in any adverse impact to the marine environment. Protected Species European Protected Species such as otter and bats could be present. Reptiles may also be present along the route. Further survey work would be required to determine their presence along the route. It is anticipated that opportunities would exist to minimise G potential impacts on protected species. Habitats This route largely passes through open moorland likely to comprise areas of blanket bog, heather moorland, peatlands and grassland. Areas of bog are likely to have been modified through grazing. There is the potential for areas of deep peat. Further survey work would be required to ensure impacts on these habitats are kept to a minimum, and areas of deeper peat are avoided. A There are small areas of native woodland, typically to the west of the B886, but it is anticipated that impacts on these could be avoided. Ornithology This route option follows the existing wood pole line which runs close to areas of settlement and roads. Hen harriers breed within the wider area and there are records of corncrake. White-tailed eagle are also known to frequent the area. All of these bird species A are listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Potential for displacement and disturbance during construction should however be mitigated for through timing of these activities. Hydrology / Geology This route crosses over surface water drinking protection zones at Trumpan and Stein, whilst properties within the vicinity of the route are likely to be served by private water supplies from watercourses crossed by the route. Catchments to any groundwater wells, springs and GWDTE are likely to be similar to surface catchments and impacts should be mitigated by appropriate design. Priority peatland mapping suggests that sections of this route would pass through Class 1 (strong likelihood of deep peat and priority peatland habitats). Further survey effort would be required to determine depth of peat along this route to ensure areas of deeper peat are avoided where practicable, and inform construction practices and appropriate mitigation. A A number of watercourse crossings would be required along the length of the route. Impacts can be mitigated by good design. Due consideration would need to be given to hydrological and geological features to inform an alignment and suitable mitigation measures to minimise potential impacts on these features. Appendix 4: Environmental Appraisal of Route Options Page 1 Cultural Heritage Topics Potential Constraints RAG Rating Designations This route intersects with two Scheduled Monuments: Trumpan Church, and Dun Hallin broch, and an alignment within this route has the potential for both direct and indirect (setting) impacts on these designated heritage assets. However, it is possible to avoid direct impacts, whilst indirect impacts could be minimised through sensitive alignment and siting of poles. The route also passes close to another Scheduled Monument – Annait, a monastic settlement, and there are listed buildings near Lower Halistra and Stein. A Potential impacts on all designated heritage assets would need to be given due consideration during routeing and alignment stages to ensure potential impacts are avoided or minimised. Cultural Heritage There are numerous non-designated heritage assets that are recorded on the Highland Historic Environment Record in the Assets Waternish Peninsula. This route passes through Trumpan Township (MHG 4739) and Lusta Township (MHG6139) and through a well-preserved field system at Hallistra (MHG5965). Other non-designated assets include brochs, sheiling huts, field systems, boundaries and areas of lazy bed cultivation. R Consideration would need to be given during the alignment stage to avoid and minimise potential impacts to recorded heritage assets, as well as the potential for encountering unrecorded archaeological remains. Given the nature of development it is considered that such opportunities to minimise impacts would exist. People Topics Potential Constraints RAG Rating Proximity to Numerous properties fall within or within the vicinity of this route at Trumpan, Halstra, Hallin, Stein, Lusta and Hornival. It is Dwellings anticipated that the overhead line would be located to the east of the B886 and sufficiently upslope and distant to minimise potential impacts to properties in most cases. However, pinch points may exist along the route, for example at Trumpan whereby a balance A will need to be struck between proximity to properties and other constraints such as Trumpan Church. Landscape and Visual Topics Potential Constraints RAG Rating Designations Around 11.5 km of this route passes through the North West Skye SLA. Whilst the proposed wood pole structures would replace an existing trident wood pole OHL in this area, the requirement to find a new, offline alignment and slightly more robust pole structure gives potential for increased prominence in coastal views and when crossing croftland, both of which are identified as Special A Qualities of the designation. There is also the possibility of increased prominence in views from the A850 towards MacLeod’s Tables which is also a Special Quality of the SLA. Appendix 4: Environmental Appraisal of Route Options Page 2 Landscape Character This route mostly passes through the Smooth Stepped Moorland and Linear Crofting LCTs with small areas of Scattered Crofting LCT near Trumpan. These three LCTs are considered able to accommodate some degree of development of the type proposed. The route also passes through small sections of Coniferous Woodland Plantation LCT which is considered to be less sensitive. Whilst the Proposed Development would replace an existing wood pole OHL in this section, the requirement to find a new off-line alignment and slightly more robust pole structure may lead to an increased potential for skylining above the hills which form the backdrop to settlements and croft land or form the potential for a new or distracting feature within coastal views. A SNH wildness mapping indicates a relatively low degree of wildness through most of this route, due to the influence of roads, properties and other modern artefacts. A moderate degree of wildness is present within the southern section of the route due to the perceived naturalness. As this line would comprise a replacement to the existing, albeit of a slightly more robust pole structure, notable wild land impacts are considered unlikely. Visual The Proposed Development would be likely to feature in main views from properties at Trumpan. There is potential for rear views of the proposed route from properties and tourist developments around Stein, Halistra, Lusta and Hallin. Views would also be obtained from the B886 and other minor roads on the Waternish peninsula and the A850, all of which are popular tourist routes A and from a Core Path near Stein. There may also be views from a viewpoint and car parking area at Trumpan Head depending on alignment. Land Use Topics Potential Constraints RAG Rating Agriculture This route crosses areas of agricultural land use, including land primarily suited to grassland (4.2), and land capable of use as improved grassland (5.1 and 5.2). No grade 1, 2 or 3 agricultural land is present in the vicinity of the route. G Forestry This route option is not anticipated to result in any significant areas of felling. The route does pass through a block of commercial forestry to the north east of Stein, but it is anticipated that potential impacts on this could be avoided or minimised. G Recreation This route includes two core paths: one near Stein and the second east of Dunvegan. It is anticipated that recreational opportunities would be unlikely to be affected. G Planning Potential Constraints RAG Rating Policy Adherence to National, Regional and Local planning policy will in large part depend on avoiding or minimising potential constraints noted, particularly in relation to potential impacts on the historic environment given the presence of features of national A importance, the natural environment and areas of landscape importance. The RAG rating therefore reflects the potential for impact on some of these features, as noted above, albeit opportunities do exist to minimise potential impacts. Proposals No notable proposals within the planning system identified within the vicinity of this route. G Appendix 4: Environmental Appraisal of Route Options Page 3 Route 0B – Garradh Mòr Description: Initially following the route of the existing trident OHL, from Ardmore crossing to the north east side of the B886 road and passing to the rear of crofts and properties at Upper Halstra, the route then crosses the Peninsula towards Gillen and follows an elevated route within and along the edge of forestry, to the west of the small hills which form the spine of the Waternish peninsula. The route then crosses the A850 and open moorland to reach Dunvegan substation. Review of Environmental Constraints: Natural Heritage Topics Potential Constraints RAG Rating Designations This route option does not pass through any sites designated for Nature Conservation. The marine waters surrounding this coastline are designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC); the Inner Hebrides and the Minches SAC is designated for Harbour porpoise. G The proposed development is not anticipated to result in any adverse impacts to the marine environment.