DELF HILL WIND CLUSTER Environmental Statement Rural Wind Farms Ltd March 2014 © Green Cat Renewables Ltd © Green Cat Renewables Ltd Environmental Statement DELF HILL WIND CLUSTER Prepared for: Rural Wind Farms Ltd Prepared By: Green Cat Renewables Ltd. Edinburgh Office Midlothian Innovation Centre Roslin, EH25 9RE Tel: 0131 440 6150 Checked By: Glen Moon Date: 10/03/14 Approved By: Gavin Catto Date: 14/03/14 © Green Cat Renewables Ltd © Green Cat Renewables Ltd Preface This Environmental Statement seeks to assess the environmental effects of the proposed Delf Hill development, which comprises the installation and operation of three wind turbines no greater than 126m to blade tip height. This is an Environmental Statement for the purposes of the Planning EIA Regulations (the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 2011) covering the major environmental effects arising from this proposal. © Green Cat Renewables Ltd © Green Cat Renewables Ltd Table of Contents 1 Project Summary .................................................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Background ................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Benefits of the Project ................................................................................ 1 1.4 Scope of the Environmental Statement...................................................... 2 2 The Proposed Development ................................................................. 3 2.1 Location ....................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Site Layout ................................................................................................... 4 2.3 Community Consultation ............................................................................ 5 2.4 About the Site ............................................................................................. 5 2.5 Description of the Proposed Wind Turbines .............................................. 9 2.6 Associated Infrastructure.......................................................................... 11 2.7 Grid Connection ........................................................................................ 14 2.8 Site electrical works .................................................................................. 14 2.9 Construction Programme .......................................................................... 15 2.10 Traffic and Transportation ........................................................................ 16 2.11 Decommissioning ...................................................................................... 20 3 Planning and Environmental Policy Context ........................................ 21 3.1 International and EU Context ................................................................... 21 3.2 UK National Context.................................................................................. 21 3.3 National Planning Policy Framework (2012)............................................. 24 3.4 National Energy Policy Statements ........................................................... 25 3.5 Local Context ............................................................................................. 25 3.6 Conclusion ................................................................................................. 32 4 Local Economic Benefits ..................................................................... 35 4.1 Construction / Decommissioning Phase Benefits ..................................... 35 4.2 Operational Phase Benefits ...................................................................... 35 4.3 Community Benefit ................................................................................... 36 5 Project Design Considerations ............................................................ 37 5.1 Site Selection ............................................................................................. 37 5.2 Site Design Process ................................................................................... 37 5.3 Key Considerations ................................................................................... 38 5.4 Design Evolution ....................................................................................... 41 5.5 Summary ................................................................................................... 45 6 Ecology and Ornithology .................................................................... 47 6.1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 47 6.2 Regulations and Guidance ........................................................................ 47 6.3 Characterisation of Effects/Magnitude of Effect ...................................... 50 6.4 Phase 1 Habitat Surveys ............................................................................ 55 6.5 NVC Survey ................................................................................................ 58 6.6 Ornithology ............................................................................................... 58 6.7 European Protected Species (EPS) Survey and Mammal Surveys ............ 62 6.8 Assessment of Impacts ............................................................................. 69 6.9 Summary of Impacts ................................................................................. 71 6.10 Conclusion ................................................................................................. 73 © Green Cat Renewables Ltd 6.11 References ................................................................................................ 73 7 Landscape and Visual Impact .............................................................. 75 8 Noise ............................................................................................... 127 9 Cultural Heritage/Archaeology ......................................................... 149 9.1 Introduction ............................................................................................ 149 9.2 Aims and Objectives ................................................................................ 151 9.3 Methodology ........................................................................................... 151 9.4 Baseline Information ............................................................................... 161 9.5 Development Impacts and Mitigation .................................................... 169 9.6 Summary and Conclusions ...................................................................... 186 9.7 References .............................................................................................. 187 10 Surface and Groundwater Hydrology ................................................ 191 10.1 Introduction ............................................................................................ 191 10.2 Potential Impacts .................................................................................... 191 10.3 Guidance ................................................................................................. 191 10.4 Methodology ........................................................................................... 192 10.5 Baseline ................................................................................................... 193 10.6 Predicted Impacts ................................................................................... 196 10.7 Mitigation ................................................................................................ 200 10.8 Assessment of Residual Impact .............................................................. 203 10.9 Conclusion ............................................................................................... 204 11 Existing Infrastructure, Telecommunications, Television, Aviation and Electromagnetic Interference ........................................................... 205 11.1 Introduction ............................................................................................ 205 11.2 Guidance ................................................................................................. 205 11.3 Methodology ........................................................................................... 205 11.4 Assessment of Impact ............................................................................. 206 11.5 Impacts, Issues and Mitigating Actions .................................................. 208 12 Shadow Flicker ................................................................................. 209 12.1 Background ............................................................................................. 209 12.2 Baseline and Methodology ..................................................................... 210 12.3 Assessment ............................................................................................. 211 12.4 Summary and Conclusion ....................................................................... 213 13 Climate Change ................................................................................ 215 13.1 Introduction ............................................................................................ 215 13.2 Potential Impacts ...................................................................................