CLOICH FOREST WIND FARM VOLUME 3: TECHNICAL APPENDICES TECHNICAL APPENDIX A4.1: SCOPING REPORT JUNE 2021 Prepared By: Arcus Consultancy Services 7th Floor 144 West George Street Glasgow G2 2HG T +44 (0)141 221 9997 l E [email protected] w www.arcusconsulting.co.uk Registered in England & Wales No. 5644976 CLOICH FOREST WIND FARM SCOPING REQUEST OCTOBER 2019 Prepared By: Arcus Consultancy Services 7th Floor 144 West George Street Glasgow G2 2HG T +44 (0)141 221 9997 l E [email protected] W www.arcusconsulting.co.uk Registered in England & Wales No. 5644976 Scoping Request Cloich Forest Wind Farm TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 3 2 SCOPING PROCESS ................................................................................................... 6 3 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................ 7 4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ................................................................ 10 5 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL ........................................................................................ 14 6 ARCHAEOLOGY AND CULTURAL HERITAGE ............................................................ 23 7 ECOLOGY ................................................................................................................. 32 8 ORNITHOLOGY ........................................................................................................ 41 9 HYDROLOGY AND HYDROGEOLOGY ....................................................................... 49 10 NOISE ...................................................................................................................... 56 11 TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT ...................................................................................... 59 12 GEOLOGY AND PEAT ................................................................................................ 62 13 FORESTRY ............................................................................................................... 65 14 AVIATION, RADAR AND TELECOMMUNICATION .................................................... 67 15 SOCIO-ECONOMICS, LAND USE, RECREATION AND TOURISM .............................. 70 16 MISCELLANEOUS: CLIMATE CHANGE, HEALTH & SAFETY (INCLUDING MAJOR ACCIDENTS & DISTASTERS) AND SHADOW FLICKER ............................................. 74 APPENDIX A – LIST OF SCOPING CONSULTEES ................................................................ 79 EDF Renewables Arcus Consultancy Services Ltd October 2019 Page i Scoping Request Cloich Forest Wind Farm LIST OF FIGURES 1. Site Location 2. Proposed Turbine Layout 3. Landscape Study Area 4. Landscape Character 5. Landscape Designations 6. Viewpoint Location and Blade Tip ZTV 7. Cumulative Wind Farm Plan 8. Cultural Heritage Designations Assets within 5km 9. Ecology Designations 10. Ornithology Designations 11. Predicted Noise Levels Contour Plot EDF Renewables Arcus Consultancy Services Ltd October 2019 Page 2 Scoping Request Cloich Forest Wind Farm 1 INTRODUCTION This Scoping Report has been prepared by Arcus Consultancy Services Ltd (Arcus) on behalf of EDF Energy Renewables (EDF-ER), hereafter referred to as ‘the Applicant’. Section 36 consent and deemed planning permission for the Cloich Forest Wind Farm was granted following a public inquiry on 8th July 2016. The Applicant is proposing to submit an application to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU) under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to construct and operate a re-designed wind farm within the Cloich Forest in the Scottish Borders (‘the Development’). Since the proposed re-design is expected to be different in terms of scale, turbine numbers and locations from those authorised by the existing consent, a new application will be submitted. This document is a request for a scoping opinion and provides supporting information to assist in that process. 1.1 The Applicant The Applicant is Cloich Wind Farm LLP, wholly owned by EDF Energy Renewables Limited (“the Applicant”). EDF Energy Renewables Limited is part of one of the world’s largest electricity companies. The EDF Renewables operating portfolio of 36 British wind farms is making a significant contribution to the delivery of new affordable, low carbon electricity to the UK. Work is also underway on the 450 MW Neart Na Gaoithe offshore wind farm project in the Firth of Forth. EDF Renewables has recently completed construction of the 177 MW Dorenell Wind Farm near Dufftown in the Scottish Highlands which is the largest onshore wind farm in Europe for the EDF Renewables group. 1.2 Planning History Section 36 consent and deemed planning permission for Cloich Forest Wind Farm was granted following a Public Local Inquiry (PLI) on 8th July 2016 by the Scottish Ministers, under reference number WIN-140-1. During the course of the application process the tip height of the turbines was reduced to 115m. The PLI held for Cloich was conjoined with an appeal for Hag Law wind farm which was proposed on land adjacent to Cloich Forest. Hag Law Wind Farm was subsequently refused. Since the time of the submission of the planning application in October 2012 and the submission of Supplementary Environmental Information in January 2014, there have been changes in government financial support for renewables, prompting the Applicant to review the consented development. Technology advances in wind turbine development have resulted in significantly more productive turbines with relatively minor increases in turbine dimensions that are able to produce lower cost renewable electricity. The approved project’s Environmental Statement (ES) and Supplementary Environmental Information (SEI) as well as the decision notice and PLI Report are available to view and download from the Scottish Borders Council website (ref 12/01283/S36). The consent is subject to 27 conditions. The PLI report provides a useful narrative of the issues that were most important for the previous application and it is anticipated that they will be similar for a revised design. The extensive environmental assessment work undertaken for the consented layout provides a good understanding of the environmental issues and enables the scope of the forthcoming EIA to be focussed on topics that are likely to experience significant effects. It should also be possible to remove from the scope of the EIA those environmental topics where no significant effects were previously identified, and no additional significant effects are likely to arise as a result of changes to the scheme. The planning principle for a wind farm has been established in this location by the current consent which was granted following in-depth examination at PLI. It is anticipated that EDF Renewables Arcus Consultancy Services Ltd October 2019 Page 3 Scoping Request Cloich Forest Wind Farm the planning test for the revised application will largely focus upon whether any additional likely significant environmental effects are anticipated. Where policy and guidance has potential to change the conclusions reached in the EIA Report, it will be reviewed alongside those elements where the re-design has the potential to alter the previously assessed effects. In order to highlight any potential changes in the conclusions between the consented scheme and the proposed re-design, a comparison document will be provided as a supporting document to the EIA. This will outline and highlight any differences in predicted effects, to ensure any potential changes from those previously assessed effects are clear, and understood in context of the consented site. Table 1.1 Summary of Likely Environmental Changes Environmental Topic Summary of likely changes between the consented scheme presented and the proposed re-design and requirement for re-assessment. Landscape and Visual The changes in candidate turbine and layout are anticipated to result in a change to the ZTV and potential visibility. Updates to the landscape and visual Assessment are required. Due to the time elapsed since the assessment of the consented scheme it is likely the cumulative situation will have altered. The cumulative situation will be updated as part of the EIA. Ornithology The bird survey data collected for the consent wind farm is no longer up to date due to the time elapsed since the surveys. As such, the anticipated change is unknown. Updated bird surveys are underway and the effect of the Development will be assessed within the EIA. Ecology The ecology survey data collected for the consent wind farm is no longer up to date due to the time elapsed since the surveys and changes in legislation. As such, the anticipated change is unknown Updated ecology surveys are underway and the effect of the Development will be assessed within the EIA. Noise The changes in candidate turbine will result in a change of sound power levels of the turbine. This is to be re-assessed as part of the EIA. Cultural Heritage The changes in candidate turbine and layout are anticipated to result in a change to the ZTV and a change to the potential visibility and indirect setting effects. This will be re-assessed within the EIA. There is expected to be a limited change to direct effects on known features, with a possible reduction to previously assessed effects due to the reduced number of turbines and associated footprint. This will be re-assessed within the EIA. No change is anticipated to the previously