Golticlay Wind Farm Environmental Statement Volume 2a: Main Report October 2016 ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT VOLUME 2: MAIN REPORT Prepared by This document has been prepared by AECOM Limited for the sole use of our client (the “Client”) and in accordance with generally accepted consultancy principles, the budget for fees and the terms of reference agreed between AECOM Limited and the Client. Any information provided by third parties and referred to herein has not been checked or verified by AECOM Limited, unless otherwise expressly stated in the document. No third party may rely upon this document without the prior and express written agreement of AECOM Limited. Golticlay Wind Farm Environmental Statement Volume 2: Main Report October 2016 CONTENTS 1. Introduction 4.5 Construction Phase 1.1 Introduction 4.6 Operational Phase 1.2 E.ON Climate and Renewables 4.7 Decommissioning 1.3 Brief Description of the Development Site and Setting 4.8 References 1.4 Planning and Legislative Context 5. Summary of Consultation 1.5 Consents Required for the Development 5.1 Introduction 1.6 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 5.2 Pre-Application Consultation Activities 1.7 The Environmental Statement 5.3 EIA Scoping 1.8 Section 36 Application – Other Supporting Documentation 5.4 Consultees 1.9 Availability of the Environmental Statement 5.5 Gate Check Process 1.10 References 5.6 Summary of Scoping Report Responses 2. Approach to Environmental Impact Assessment 6. Planning Policy Context 2.1 Introduction 6.1 Introduction 2.2 The Electricity Works (EIA) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 6.2 Methods 2.3 Overview of EIA 6.3 International, EU, National Targets 2.4 The Environmental Statement 6.4 National Planning Policy Context 2.5 Approach to Assessment 6.5 Local Planning Policy Context 2.6 Types of Effect 6.6 Conclusions 2.7 Assumptions and Limitations 6.7 References 2.8 References 7. Landscape and Visual Assessment 3. Evolution of Design and Alternatives 7.1 Introduction 3.1 Introduction 7.2 Methods 3.2 Forestry Enterprise Scotland (FES) Background 7.3 Existing Conditions 3.3 Site Selection 7.4 Potential Effect 3.4 Site Context 7.5 Mitigation 3.5 Community Consultation 7.6 Residual Effects 3.6 Design Considerations 7.7 Cumulative Effects 3.7 Key Constraints 7.8 Summary 3.8 Summary of Wind Farm Design Evolution 7.9 References 3.9 Mitigation by Design 8. Noise 4. Project Description 8.1 Introduction 4.1 Introduction 8.2 Methods 4.2 The Development Site 8.3 Existing Conditions 4.3 The Development 8.4 Potential Effects 4.4 Forestry 8.5 Mitigation Golticlay Wind Farm Environmental Statement Volume 2: Main Report October 2016 8.6 Residual Effects 12.3 Existing Conditions 8.7 Cumulative Effects 12.4 Potential Effects 8.8 Summary 12.5 Mitigation 8.9 References 12.6 Residual Effects 9. Ecology 12.7 Cumulative Effects 9.1 Introduction 12.8 Summary 9.2 Legislation and Policy 12.9 References 9.3 Methods 13. Socio-economics and Tourism 9.4 Results: Baseline Conditions 13.1 Introduction 9.5 Embedded Mitigation 13.2 Methods 9.6 Ecological Impact Assessment 13.3 Existing Conditions 9.7 Residual Effects 13.4 Potential Effects 9.8 Cumulative Effects 13.5 Mitigation 9.9 Summary 13.6 Residual Effects 9.10 Abbreviations 13.7 Cumulative Effects 9.11 References 13.8 Summary 10. Ornithology 13.9 References 10.1 Introduction 14. Traffic, Transport and Access 10.2 Methods 14.1 Introduction 10.3 Existing Conditions 14.2 Methods 10.4 Potential Effects 14.3 Existing Conditions 10.5 Mitigation 14.4 Potential Effects 10.6 Cumulative Effects 14.5 Mitigation 10.7 Residual Effects 14.6 Residual Effects 10.8 Appropriate Assessment 14.7 Cumulative Effects 10.8 Summary 14.8 Summary 10.9 References 14.9 References 11. Geology, Hydrology and Hydrogeology 15. Infrastructure and Telecommunications 11.1 Introduction 15.1 Introduction 11.2 Methods 15.2 Methods 11.3 Existing Conditions 15.3 Existing Conditions 11.4 Potential Effects 15.4 Potential Effects 11.5 Mitigation 15.5 Mitigation 11.6 Residual Effects 15.6 Residual Effects 11.7 Cumulative Effects 15.7 Cumulative Effects 11.8 Summary 15.8 Summary 11.9 References 15.9 References 12. Land Use, Recreation, Socio-economics & Tourism 16. Air Safeguarding 12.1 Introduction 16.1 Introduction 12.2 Methods 16.2 Methods Golticlay Wind Farm Environmental Statement Volume 2: Main Report October 2016 16.3 Existing Conditions 16.4 Potential Effects 16.5 Mitigation 16.6 Residual Effects 16.7 Cumulative Effects 16.8 Summary 16.9 References 17 Forestry 17.1 Introduction 17.2 Legislation and Planning Policy Guidance 17.3 National Legislation and Policy 17.4 Regional Policy 17.5 Forestry Study Area 17.6 Land Management Plans 17.7 Development of the Wind Farm Forest Plan 17.8 Baseline Conditions 17.9 Wind Farm Forestry Management Plan (FMP) 17.10 Requirement for Compensatory Planting 17.11 Forestry Management Practices 17.12 Forestry Waste 17.13 Summary 17.14 References 18 Shadow Flicker 18.1 Introduction 18.2 Methods 18.3 Existing Conditions 18.4 Mitigation 18.5 Cumulative Effects 18.6 Summary 18.7 References 19 Residual Effects and Conclusion 19.1 Introduction 19.2 Residual Effects 19.3 Summary of ES Conclusions Golticlay Wind Farm Environmental Statement Volume 2a Main Report 1-1 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction Setting 1.1.1 E.ON (the ‘Applicant’) is proposing to develop a wind farm near Lybster on the eastern coast of 1.3.2 There are two landowners involved with the Development: Forestry Enterprise Scotland (FES) and Caithness, to be known as Golticlay Wind Farm (the ‘Development’). The Development consists of up to Latheron Lybster and Clyth Community Development Company (LLCCDC). The majority of the 19 wind turbines, which will have a maximum height to blade tip of up to 130 metres (m), and associated Development Site is currently forested and managed for timber production, with forestry felling and infrastructure. Each wind turbine will have a maximum electrical generating capacity of up to 3.4 removal operations currently in progress in the northwest part of the Development Site. Most of the megawatts (MW), giving a maximum total generating capacity of up to 64.6 MW. A detailed description of surrounding land is undeveloped. the Development is set out in Chapter 4: Project Description of this Environmental Statement (ES). 1.3.3 There are areas within the Development Site where ground conditions are quite wet and boggy. 1.1.2 The design of the Development has been derived through a series of detailed studies considering a Elevations range across the Development Site in a south – north gradient from approximately 140 to 211 range of factors, including: wind resource, environmental and engineering constraints, consultation with m above ordnance datum (AOD). The highest point is the summit of Cnoc an Earrannaiche in the north key stakeholders, and commercial viability. A detailed description of how the design of the Development western corner of the Development Site. has been derived is set out in Chapter 3: Evolution of Design and Alternatives of this ES. 1.3.4 There are no residential properties within the Development Site Boundary; however there are a number 1.1.3 As the maximum installed generation capacity will be over 50 MW, the Applicant is seeking permission to to the southeast, near Lybster. The nearest dwelling is Gamekeepers cottage, which is 1,090 m from the construct, operate, and decommission the Development from the Scottish Ministers under Section 36 of closest proposed turbine location. the Electricity Act 1989 (the ‘Act’). Site Access 1.1.4 This ES reports the results of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the Development 1.3.5 The Proposed Access to the Development Site is illustrated in Figures 1.3 (ES Volume 2b). Permanent and accompanies the Section 36 application. The purpose of the EIA is to identify and assess the likely access into the Development Site will be from two points on the C1053, which runs between Achavanich significant effects resulting from the construction, operation and decommissioning of the Development on the A9 and Lybster on the A99. Both the eastern access point (near the substation, construction and ensure that, where possible, appropriate mitigation has been incorporated into the project design, compound and Turbine 16) and the western access point (nearest Turbine 11) will be permanently and that additional measures are provided to mitigate any identified significant effects resulting from the widened to facilitate access for construction vehicles and to facilitate access for abnormal loads. Figures Development. 1.4 and 1.5 (ES Volume 2b) illustrate western and eastern access points respectively. 1.2 E.ON Climate and Renewables Road widening works and upgrading will be required along the C1053 to accommodate Heavy Goods 1.2.1 E.ON (the ‘Applicant’) is one of the world’s leading energy companies and supplies energy to around 4.6 Vehicles (HGV) loads during the construction phase. This work will be subject to a separate planning million customers in the UK. In 2007, E.ON established E.ON Climate and Renewables, a global application. The approach to assessing this associated development is discussed in Chapter 2: business concerned with developing new, cleaner ways of generating energy. E.ON currently owns and Approach to Environmental Impact Assessment. operates 15 onshore and 5 offshore wind farms in the UK, with a total installed capacity of over 700 MW. Proposed Development E.ON continues to develop further renewable energy projects, both onshore, and offshore, and the company currently has over 200 MW of capacity under construction.