Penmanshiel wind farm RES

1 Introduction Introduction an existing section of farm track. The proposed site access track will, in part, follow the right of way route. Further details of potential impacts upon this receptor are described in Chapter 7: 1.1 This Environmental Statement (ES) is submitted in support of a planning application made by RES UK Landscape and Visual and Chapter 16: Socio-Economics. & Ireland Limited (RES) (“the applicant”) for planning permission to install 15 wind turbines with 1.8 The proposed wind farm site itself is not subject to any environmental designations. The nearest associated access track, infrastructure and ancillary development including a substation, permanent Natura 2000 site is the to Fast Castle Special Protection Area (SPA) approximately 2 km to and temporary anemometer masts, a temporary construction compound and a network of the north east. Several Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) are also within 2 km of the site underground cables at Penmanshiel Farm in the Council (SBC) area. boundary. These are Drone Hill Moss, Pease Bridge Glen, St Abbs Head to Fast Castle, 1.2 This chapter outlines the development context of the proposed wind farm, the application details, coast (intertidal) and Old Cambus Quarry (geological). provides information on the applicant and outlines the structure of this ES. 1.9 Various ecological assessments have been carried out on the development site including habitat, bat activity, otter and water vole, badger, reptile and amphibian surveys. The findings of these surveys Development Context are discussed in detail in Chapter 8: Ecology. Site Location 1.10 Ornithological surveys have been undertaken starting winter 2009 and ending winter 2011. Results from these surveys are reported in Chapter 9: Ornithology. 1.3 The proposed wind farm site is located near Grantshouse in the Scottish Borders with the closest 1.11 The proposed wind farm site is considered low sensitivity on the SNH/RSPB bird sensitivity map1. turbine located approximately 1.5 km from the village edge. Further afield, is located approximately 7 km to the south-east and is situated approximately 4.5 km to the 1.12 There is one category C(S) Listed Building on the site, Harelawside Farm. No part of the proposed north-west. The consented, and currently under construction 22 turbine wind farm, Drone Hill is wind farm site lies within a Conservation Area or Garden and Designed Landscape. situated to the east of the site with approximately 530 m between the closest turbines. The 1.13 The “Winding Cairn”, which is a Scheduled Monument (SM), is located within the site boundary near proposed wind farm site is located on Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 map sheet 67 and the southern tip of the existing Penmanshiel Moor forestry where the majority of turbines are Explorer 1:25,000 map 346. The centre point of the proposed wind farm site is Ordnance Survey proposed. In the wider area (10 km from site boundary) there are a number of SAMs including: grid reference 382200E, 667800N. The proposed wind farm site boundary covers approximately Harly Darlies, Ewieside Hill, St. Helen’s Church, Dowlaw, Lowries Knowes as well as the Garden and 592 hectares. The location of the proposed wind farm site is shown in Figure 1.1. Designated Landscape at Dunglass and Conservation Area at Oldhamstocks. These are considered in 1.4 The proposed wind farm site itself comprises a large area of commercial forest as well as detail in Chapter 10: Cultural Heritage and Archaeology. agricultural land, mainly used for arable and improved pasture. The main development site is made 1.14 A series of watercourses are present throughout the proposed site. Broad Bog Burn and Blegdon up of Penmanshiel Farm and Harelawside Farm as well as the Penmanshiel Moor commercial forestry Burn cross the forested section of the site before draining south into the Harelaw Burn, just after it operation, which will need to be felled. An area of woodland at Penmanshiel Moss has also been emerges out of the forest. Longstruther Burn crosses open ground at Moss Maw before draining into included in the site boundary, together with a number of shelter belts. No infrastructure is planned the Winding Burn just before it emerges south out of the forest. Both Harelaw Burn and Winding on these areas; however further tree felling may be undertaken in these areas in order to maximise Burn flow into the Howpark Burn along the south-east boundary of the site. The Howpark Burn turbine energy yield. subsequently flows into the Eye Water just beyond the site boundary to the east of Grantshouse. 1.5 The site is mainly located in an area classified as coastal moorland with coastal farmland and The presence of surface watercourses adjacent to and within the site is described in more detail in pastoral upland fringe. The lowest lying turbine is located at 179 m and the highest at 227 m above Chapter 11: Geology, Hydrology and Hydrogeology. sea level. 1.15 There are two residential properties within the proposed wind farm site boundary, Harelawside Farm and Harelawbrae. Just outside the western site boundary lies Penmanshiel Farm, South Environmental Sensitivity Penmanshiel Farm and the Penmanshiel Farm Cottages. To the south along Howpark Road lie 1.6 The proposed wind farm site is not subject to any landscape designation. There are however, Howpark Farm Cottage, Howpark Farm and The Coverage. To the north there are a number of regional landscape designations nearby including the Berwickshire Coast Area of Great Landscape properties at Old Cambus as well as Old Townhead Farm and Headchester. The closest residence to Value (AGLV) which traces the east coastline within Scottish Borders and the Lammermuir Hills the turbines is Penmanshiel Farm at 941 m, and the second closest residence is Headchesters at 975 AGLV which lies to the west and south west of the site in both Scottish Borders and East Lothian. m from the nearest turbine. More information on these properties in relation to potential noise Further details are provided in Chapter 7: Landscape and Visual.

1.7 There is one right of way on the proposed wind farm site, Laird’s Way (BB11) which is also an SBC 1 Bright, JA et al ( 2006), Bird Sensitivity Map to provide locational guidance for onshore wind farms in . Core path (#100). The right of way joins Grantshouse to the A1107 near Old Cambus partly utilising http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/sensitivitymap_tcm9-157991.pdf

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impacts is presented in Chapter 12: Noise and Chapter 14: Electromagnetic Interference and 1.23 Under the requirements of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006, the applicant has undertaken Pre- Aviation and Chapter 17: Other Issues – Health and Safety, Air quality and Climate and Shadow Application Consultation (PAC) with the local community including the submission of a PAC report Flicker. with the planning application. A pre-application notice was registered with SBC on 24 March 2011 1.16 The proposed wind farm requires the felling of 204 ha of trees in order to allow the efficient allowing for the statutory 12-week minimum process to consult the local community. This notice operation of the turbines. This is predominantly commercial plantation forestry located on set out the public consultation process to be undertaken in advance of a planning application being Penmanshiel Moor (189 ha) that was planted in the late 1980’s. Compensatory woodland planting submitted for this proposal and the methods RES would use to consult the local community on the has been discussed with SBC and a mechanism has been agreed, in principle, for addressing this proposed development. Designed within the statutory framework of the Planning etc. (Scotland) requirement. More information about potential impacts on the forest resource is presented in Act 2006 and in consultation with SBC, the PAC also meets the 10 National Standards for Community Chapter 13: Forestry. Engagement as set out in Planning Advice Note 81 (PAN 81): Community Engagement and also draws on SP=EED (Scottish Planning = Effective Engagement and Delivery) derived from PAN 81 to 1.17 The impacts of the proposed wind farm, including de-forestation, upon traffic and transport are effectively audit the consultation process. considered in Chapter 15: Access, Traffic and Transport. 1.24 The outcome of the PAC process is outlined in the PAC report submitted with the planning Application Details application.

1.18 RES UK & Ireland (Ltd), a subsidiary of Renewable Energy Systems Holdings Ltd, is applying to Applicant Scottish Borders Council (SBC) for full planning permission to construct a wind farm comprising 15 wind turbines on Penmanshiel Farm. The proposed wind farm site and access lies within the Area 1.25 RES is one of the world’s leading independent renewable energy developers with operations across Planning Office Boundary of Scottish Borders Council. The planning application boundary is shown in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. RES, a British company, has been at the forefront of wind Figure 1.2 and the proposed turbine layout is shown in Figure 1.3. energy development since the 1970s and has developed and/or built 100 wind farms (or more than 5 Gigawatts (GW) of wind capacity) around the world, including 10% of the UK’s wind energy. This 1.19 Each turbine will have a tapered tubular tower and be three bladed with an overall height to blade includes seven wind farms in Scotland with a total generation capacity of more than 120 MW. In tip not exceeding 100 m. This turbine size has been selected following a thorough site selection and 2010, RES commenced construction of Hill of Towie Wind Farm in Moray and Kelburn Wind Farm in design evolution process that is outlined in detail in Chapter 3: Design Evolution and Alternatives. North Ayrshire. Every year, the proposed wind farm is likely to generate electrical energy equivalent to the average annual demand of approximately 17,000 homes2, (30 % of the homes in the Scottish Borders area – 1.26 RES is active in a range of renewable energy technologies, including the development of large-scale refer to Technical Appendix 17.1 for details). solar and biomass power plant and the delivery of on-site renewable heat and power technologies. In the field of renewable energy and sustainable buildings we offer strategic advice to the public 1.20 In addition to the turbines and their foundations, the development will include a network of on-site and private sectors. access tracks, a permanent free-standing meteorological mast, up to six temporary guyed meteorological masts, a sub-station and control building and a network of buried cables. An access 1.27 RES has offices across the UK and worldwide. Drawing on decades of experience in the renewable route to the proposed wind farm site will be required consisting of elements of upgraded existing energy and construction industries, RES has the expertise to develop, construct and operate tracks together with some new-build. Each turbine location will require an area of hard standing to projects of outstanding quality. Regional development in Scotland is managed from Glasgow by a permit access and laydown for the assembly cranes. During construction, a temporary compound growing team of over 50 staff. for site offices and welfare facilities will be required. Further details of the proposed development are presented in Chapter 4: Development Description. Project Team

1.21 RES’s independently commissioned studies have examined a number of options for the wind farm 1.28 AMEC Environment and Infrastructure UK Ltd (formally known as Entec UK Ltd) and other sub- grid connection and have concluded that the most feasible grid connection could be a new 33 kV consultants have supported RES in carrying out the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and connection to Berwick GSP, 27 km away. RES will make an application to the distribution operator, compilation of this Environmental Statement (ES). Table 1.1 gives details of who was responsible ScottishPower Plc, for a grid connection and once agreed they will in turn make the required for producing each section. planning application for the connection infrastructure. The potential environmental impacts of the Table 1.1: Project Team and Contribution grid connection route are discussed further in Chapter 18: Potential Grid Connections. 1.22 This application is the culmination of a five-year programme of work by the applicant and its Company Role consultants, during which time the site’s suitability and detailed environmental interests have been AMEC Environment and Infrastructure EIA Project Manager and Co-ordinator. assessed. There is ongoing assessment of the wind regime on the proposed wind farm site using a Planning Statement 60 m meteorological mast. Design and Access Statement Non-Technical Summary

EIA contributions 2 Based on RES studies and annual average homes consumption figures from DECC statistics on household consumption 2009

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Penmanshiel wind farm RES

Company Role • Chapter 2: Planning and Policy Context provides an overview of the climate change, • Chapter 2 Planning and Policy Context renewable energy and planning policy framework within which this development is • Chapter 3 Design Evolution and Alternatives proposed. (co-authored with RES) • Chapter 3: Design Evolution and Alternatives outlines the design strategy, layout • Chapter 7 Landscape and Visual constraints and modifications to the layout and describes the site selection process; • Chapter 8 Ecology • Chapter 4: Description of Development provides a detailed description of the scheme; • Chapter 9 Ornithology • Chapter 5: Construction and Decommissioning outlines the proposed programme of site • Chapter 11 Geology, Hydrology and preparation, construction and decommissioning works for the proposed wind farm site and Hydrogeology the management controls that will be implemented during these phases. • Chapter 15 Access, Traffic and Transport • Chapter 6: Environmental Impact Assessment Process and Methodology sets out the broad • Chapter 18 Potential Grid Connections method of approach that has been used in the EIA for the proposed scheme. RES Ltd Overall Project Management 1.31 The second part of the Main Report (Chapters 7-18) describes the predicted environmental impacts EIA contributions of the proposed wind farm in relation to the following topic areas: • Chapter 1 Introduction • Chapter 7: Landscape and Visual • Chapter 3 Design Evolution and Alternatives (co-authored with AMEC) • Chapter 8: Ecology • Chapter 4 Description of Development • Chapter 9: Ornithology • Chapter 5 Construction and Decommissioning • Chapter 10:Cultural Heritage and Archaeology • Chapter 6 EIA Process and Methodology • Chapter 11: Geology, Hydrology and Hydrogeology • Chapter 12 Noise • Chapter 12: Noise • Chapter 14 Electromagnetic Interference and • Chapter 13: Forestry Aviation • Chapter 14: Electromagnetic Interference and Aviation • Chapter 16 Socio-Economics • Chapter 15: Access, Traffic and Transport • Chapter 17 Other Issues – Health and Safety, • Chapter 16: Socio-Economics Air Quality and Climate and Shadow Flicker • Chapter 17: Other Issues – Health and Safety, Air and Climate and Shadow Flicker CFA Archaeology Ltd EIA contributions • Chapter 18: Potential Grid Connections • Chapter 10 Cultural Heritage and Archaeology 1.32 Within each of these chapters, the information is structured in a consistent way, as far as is Scottish Agricultural College EIA contributions practicable, as follows:

• Chapter 13 Forestry • Introduction and Overview; • Methodology. Includes a summary of relevant planning policy and guidance, together with Structure of the Environmental Statement the assessment methodology used (desk study, surveys, consultations etc.) in undertaking the EIA; 1.29 The ES consists of four volumes: • Baseline Information. This sets out the baseline against which the assessment is carried • Volume 1 – Non Technical Summary out; • Volume 2 – Main Report of the ES presents an assessment of the likely significant • Design Evolution. This sets out topic-specific measures included within the design of the environmental effects of the proposed wind farm (including figures, except Landscape and proposed wind farm to minimise, reduce or avoid negative impacts of the scheme; Visual). • Predicted Effects of the Scheme. This sets out the predicted impacts (both negative and • Volume 3 – Landscape and Visual Figures; and positive) associated with construction, operation and decommissioning of the proposed wind • Volume 4 – Technical Appendices. farm; 1.30 The Main Report is divided into three main sections. The first part comprises introductory chapters • Assessment of Effects. This includes effects due to the proposed wind farm alone and also 1-6: considers the potential for impacts of a cumulative nature which may arise due to the • Chapter 1: Introduction provides a brief introduction to the scheme, the applicant and the proposed wind farm in combination with other known schemes (including other wind farms). structure of the ES and presents the rationale for the project; Any uncertainty or risks associated with impact predictions are referred to in the text; • Mitigation and Enhancement Measures. This sets out additional measures that are identified as being required following the initial assessment of predicted effects;

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• Assessment of Residual Effects. This summarises predicted impacts remaining following mitigation, indicating the significance of the residual impacts; • Summary and Conclusions. 1.33 The assessment section of each chapter is structured in the most logical manner for that particular topic area, whilst maintaining as far as possible the general structure identified above. 1.34 The third part of the Main Report, Chapter 19: Summary, presents the overall findings and conclusions of the EIA, with particular emphasis on predicted significant impacts and mitigation measures. 1.35 The following documents in addition to the ES have been submitted as part of the planning application:

• A stand-alone Planning Statement has also been produced to accompany the application. • A Pre-Application Consultation Report (PAC) detailing the consultation activities. • A Design and Access Statement

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