Rivox Wind Farm EIA Scoping Report
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Belltown Power UK Wind Ltd x Rivox Wind Farm EIA Scoping Report Final report Prepared by LUC June 2021 Belltown Power UK Wind Ltd Rivox Wind Farm EIA Scoping Report Project Number 11521 Version Status Prepared Checked Approved Date 1. First Draft Z. Whitley K. Wigley 21.05.2021 2. Second Draft (incorporating Z. Whitley K. Wigley 04.06.2021 external inputs) 3. Third Draft (incorporating Z. Whitley K. Wigley 08.06.2021 forestry text) 4. Final Z. Whitley K. Wigley P. Thomas 10.06.2021 Bristol Land Use Consultants Ltd Landscape Design Edinburgh Registered in England Strategic Planning & Assessment Glasgow Registered number 2549296 Development Planning London Registered office: Urban Design & Masterplanning Manchester 250 Waterloo Road Environmental Impact Assessment London SE1 8RD Landscape Planning & Assessment landuse.co.uk Landscape Management 100% recycled paper Ecology Historic Environment GIS & Visualisation Contents Rivox Wind Farm June 2021 Contents Design Considerations 18 Chapter 1 Assessment of Effects 18 Introduction 3 Potential Effects 21 Approach to Mitigation 22 Project Location 3 Questions 22 Application for Section 36 Consent 3 The Need for and Benefits of the Project 4 Chapter 6 The Applicant 4 Hydrology, Hydrogeology and Peat 23 Document Structure 4 Introduction 23 Existing Conditions 23 Chapter 2 Design Considerations 24 The EIA Process and Assessment Proposed Surveys and Assessment Methodologies 25 Methodology 5 Potential Significant Effects 26 Approach to Mitigation 26 What is EIA? 5 Questions 26 The EIA Process 6 Screening 6 Scoping 6 Chapter 7 Baseline Conditions 6 Ecology 28 Assessment of Effects 7 Assessing Significance 8 Introduction 28 Cumulative Assessment 8 Existing Conditions 28 Approach to Mitigation 8 Design Considerations 30 Uncertainty 8 Proposed Surveys and Assessment Methodologies 30 EIA Report Structure 9 Potential Significant Effects 30 Approach to Mitigation 31 Questions 31 Chapter 3 Project and Project Description 10 Chapter 8 The Site and Surroundings 10 Ornithology 32 The Proposed Development 11 Introduction 32 Existing Conditions 32 Chapter 4 Design Considerations 32 Planning and Energy Policy Framework 13 Proposed Surveys and Assessment Methodologies 33 Potential Significant Effects 34 Introduction 13 Approach to Mitigation 35 Renewable Energy Policy 13 Questions 35 National Planning Policy and Guidance 14 The Statutory Development Plan 14 Chapter 9 Cultural Heritage 36 Chapter 5 Landscape and Visual Amenity 15 Introduction 36 Existing Conditions 36 Introduction 15 Design Considerations 37 Guidance 15 Proposed Surveys and Assessment Methodologies 38 Existing Conditions 16 Potential Significant Effects 40 Approach to Mitigation 41 LUC I i Contents Rivox Wind Farm June 2021 Contents Questions 42 Appendix B Questions for Consultees B-1 Chapter 10 Noise and Vibration 43 Table of Figures Introduction 43 Figure 1.1 Location Plan Existing Conditions 43 Design Considerations 43 Figure 3.1 Proposed Site Layout Proposed Surveys and Assessment Methodologies 44 Figure 5.1 Blade Type Height (230m) Zone of Theoretical Potential Significant Effects 45 Visibility (ZTV) and Scoping Viewpoints Approach to Mitigation 46 Questions 46 Figure 5.2a Landscape Character Types Figure 5.2b Landscape Character Types - Detailed Map Legend Chapter 11 Traffic and Transport 47 Figure 5.3 Designated Landscape and Wild Land Areas Figure 5.4 Cumulative Wind Farms within 45km Introduction 47 Figure 6.1 Watercourses and Peat Depth Existing Conditions 47 Proposed Surveys and Assessment Methodologies 47 Figure 7.1 Ecological and Ornithological Designations within Potential Significant Effects 48 10km of the Site Boundary Approach to Mitigation 48 Figure 9.1 Heritage Assets and Canmore Records Questions 49 Figure 9.2 Designated Heritage Assets within 10km of the Site Boundary Chapter 12 Figure 12.1 VFR 250km Chart Extract Other Issues 50 Figure 12.2 VFR 500km Chart Extract Introduction 50 Forestry 50 Approach to Mitigation 52 Aviation and Defence 52 Eskdalemuir Seismic Array 55 Telecommunications 55 Shadow Flicker 55 Climate Change, including Carbon Balance 55 Population and Human Health, including Dust 56 Major Accidents and Disasters 56 Consultation Proposals 56 Questions 56 Chapter 13 Summary of EIA Scope 57 Appendix A Consultee List A-1 LUC I ii -Chapter 1 Introduction Rivox Wind Farm June 2021 Chapter 1 Introduction Project Location Belltown Power UK Wind Ltd (hereinafter referred to as 'the applicant'), is proposing to develop the Rivox Wind Farm (hereinafter referred to as 'the Proposed Development'). The Proposed Development is located within Dumfries and Galloway administrative area. The location of the Proposed Development is shown on Figure 1.1. Within the Site boundary (red line), the likely maximum extent of turbine development is shown as the ‘Development Area’ (blue line). The Proposed Development site is located in the Beattock Composite, a component of the larger Forest of Ae, approximately 5km West of Moffat. The land is part of Scotland’s National Forest Estate, owned by Scottish Ministers on behalf of the nation, and managed by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS). FLS have made the land available for wind farm development as part of their ‘Energy Offering 2019 for Renewable Energy Sites and Storage on Scotland’s National Forests and Land’ which was a comprehensive tender process. The applicant and FLS have discussed the proposals at length and FLS will continue to be a key stakeholder of the project. Further details on the Site and a description of the Proposed Development are provided in Chapter 3. Within 5km of the Site there are a number of other Wind Farm Development Sites including: Clyde – Operational; Daer – Application submitted; Lion Hill – Application consented; Harestanes – Operational; Minnygap – Operational. Application for Section 36 Consent The Proposed Development will have a generation capacity in excess of 50 megawatts (MW). The applicant LUC I 3 Chapter 1 Introduction Rivox Wind Farm June 2021 therefore intends to apply to the Scottish Government Belltown Power was founded in 2013 as a fully Energy Consents Unit (ECU) for Section 36 (S36) consent for integrated UK renewable energy power company. With a the Proposed Development under the Electricity Act 1989 small team of dedicated development, investment and (‘the Act’). In addition, a direction will be sought for deemed engineering professionals, Belltown has delivered over planning permission under Section 57 of the Town and 200MW of onshore wind, solar PV and hydro projects in the Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, as amended. UK including construction of the 39MW Tom Nan Clach Wind Farm in Nairnshire. It is acknowledged that the Proposed Development should be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment Belltown Power’s UK team is made up of more than 20 (EIA) under The Electricity Works (Environmental Impact experienced and skilled renewable energy professionals. The Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 (as amended) (‘the team combines extensive investment expertise and deep EIA Regulations’), and the application for S36 consent will be engineering knowledge in order to source, develop, fund, accompanied by an EIA Report. Further details on the construct and operate projects to the highest standard. approach to the EIA are provided in Chapter 2. Belltown Power already manages several community benefit funds across their operational portfolio and has The Need for and Benefits of the therefore gathered experience of how best to administer these funds effectively. For their new developments they Project intend to provide a mechanism for community ownership into the renewable schemes. Belltown manages several The Scottish Government has set ambitious targets for educational programmes across the renewable asset renewable energy generation. To meet those targets, new portfolio. Education of the next generation on the renewable energy projects must be developed where importance of renewable technology is an integral part of the resources are present, environmental impacts can be Belltown culture. satisfactorily mitigated and social and economic Belltown’s team are passionate about delivering quality contributions to local communities and/or regional renewable energy projects, assisting in enabling the energy programmes can be secured. transition and combating the climate emergency. Belltown The Proposed Development will contribute to the Power has over 1GW of unsubsidised UK wind and solar Scottish Government targets by providing renewable projects under development. electricity generation in Scotland and providing an opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions from our electricity use. The EIA Report will include information on the Proposed Document Structure Developments contribution to renewable energy targets and climate change, through the carbon balance calculation (see The remainder of this report is structured as follows: Chapter 12: Other Issues). Chapter 2 provides information on the EIA process and In addition, the Proposed Development will provide assessment methodology; social and economic benefits to local communities and to the Chapter 3 provides a brief description of the Site and wider region for example through financial investment. the nature and purpose of the Proposed Development; Details of the socio-economic benefits of the Proposed Development will be set out in the EIA Report and/or a Chapter 4 provides an overview of planning and energy standalone economic assessment report which would policy and legislation