ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT VOLUME 1 Clach Liath Wind Farm For further information, please contact: RSK Environment Ltd: 65 Sussex Street, Glasgow G41 1DX, UK Tel: +44 (0)141 418 0471 • Contact: Joe Somerville • Email: [email protected] www.rsk.co.uk APRIL 2012 RSK GENERAL NOTES Project No.: P190135 Title: Clach Liath Wind Farm Environmental Statement Client: Falck Renewables Wind Ltd and Coriolis Energy LLP Date: April 2012 Office: Glasgow Author Joe Somerville Technical reviewer Jamie Gleave Date: April 2012 Date: April 2012 Project manager Joe Somerville Date: April 2012 RSK Environment Ltd (RSK) has prepared this report for the sole use of the client, showing reasonable skill and care, for the intended purposes as stated in the agreement under which this work was completed. The report may not be relied upon by any other party without the express agreement of the client and RSK. No other warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to the professional advice included in this report. 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Falck Renewables Wind Ltd and Coriolis Energy LLP Clach Liath Wind Farm Environmental Statement G/P/190135/08/03/00 Rev00 CONTENTS PREFACE.........................................................................................................................................7 1 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................9 1.1 The Proposed Development ................................................................................................9 1.2 The Applicant ......................................................................................................................9 1.3 Requirement for Environmental Assessment......................................................................10 1.4 Content of this Environmental Statement ...........................................................................10 1.5 EIA Methodology...............................................................................................................12 2 ALTERNATIVES & DESIGN EVOLUTION................................................................................18 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................18 2.2 Site Selection ....................................................................................................................18 2.3 Project Design Evolution....................................................................................................19 3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................25 3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................25 3.2 Site Description .................................................................................................................25 3.3 Summary of Key Components ...........................................................................................25 3.4 Wind Turbines ...................................................................................................................26 3.5 Crane hard standings ........................................................................................................30 3.6 Transformer Houses..........................................................................................................31 3.7 Permanent Anemometer Mast ...........................................................................................31 3.8 Access Routes ..................................................................................................................32 3.9 On-site Electrical Connections and Control Building...........................................................35 3.10 Grid connection .................................................................................................................37 3.11 Temporary Construction Compound ..................................................................................37 3.12 Borrow Pits........................................................................................................................37 3.13 Land-take..........................................................................................................................38 3.14 Construction Programme...................................................................................................39 3.15 Construction workforce......................................................................................................40 3.16 Operational Phase Activities/Maintenance .........................................................................42 3.17 Decommissioning..............................................................................................................43 3.18 References........................................................................................................................43 4 PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK .........................................................................................44 4.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................44 4.2 UK Context........................................................................................................................44 4.3 National Policy Framework ................................................................................................46 4.4 Regional Policy Framework ...............................................................................................49 4.5 Local Policy Framework.....................................................................................................53 4.6 Conclusions.......................................................................................................................55 4.7 References........................................................................................................................55 5 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT .....................................................................................................56 5.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................56 5.2 Legislation and Policy........................................................................................................56 Falck Renewables Wind Ltd and Coriolis Energy LLP i Clach Liath Wind Farm Environmental Statement G/P/190135/08/03/00 Rev00 5.3 Method of assessment.......................................................................................................60 5.4 Baseline Environment........................................................................................................69 5.5 Project Characteristics.......................................................................................................75 5.6 Predicted Impacts..............................................................................................................80 5.7 Mitigation...........................................................................................................................91 5.8 Residual Impacts...............................................................................................................95 5.9 Cumulative Impacts...........................................................................................................95 5.10 References........................................................................................................................96 6 ECOLOGY................................................................................................................................97 6.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................97 6.2 Legislation and Policy........................................................................................................97 6.3 Method of assessment.......................................................................................................98 6.4 Baseline Environment...................................................................................................... 105 6.5 Project Characteristics..................................................................................................... 120 6.6 Predicted Impacts............................................................................................................ 122 6.7 Mitigation......................................................................................................................... 126 6.8 Residual Impacts............................................................................................................