Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
current landuse is predominantly active commercial forestry. As such these species are not
considered further within this chapter.
11.4 Topic Specific Design Evolution
11.4.1 The following buffers were used when designing the layout of the proposed wind farm in
order to protect sensitive features:
• Sensitive habitats (including broadleaved woodland, scattered scrub, marshy
grassland and blanket bog) - no wind farm infrastructure placed on these habitats;
• Known watercourses as shown on 1:25,000 OS mapping – 50 m buffer employed and
where possible number of watercourse crossings minimised;
• Features used by bats (including watercourses and forest edges) –a buffer was used
to ensure a 50 m distance from turbine blade tip to features used by bats as per
Natural England guidelines (2009) (this also applied to forest edges that could be
created through the removal of forestry to facilitate construction). This corresponded
to an 86 m radius buffer around turbines as discussed in Chapter 4: Description of the
Proposed Development and in Appendix 11.5;
• No construction activities will take place within 300 m of the group of ponds north of
the site boundary in order to minimise the potential impacts on great crested newts if
present.
11.5 Evaluation of Valued Ecological Receptors (VERs)
11.5.1 This section provides an assessment of the nature conservation value of the valued
ecological receptors (VERs) within the site boundary that would be affected by the proposed
wind farm (see Table 11.10). An investigation of the baseline data and current condition of
the site was used to inform the selection of appropriate VERs. Assessments were made for
those species or habitats considered potentially vulnerable to significant effects and are
described in the Assessment of Effects section below.
Table 11.10 Summary of Conservation Value and Sensitivity of VERs Identified
Valued
Ecological
Receptor
Covering Legislation and Guidance Summary
Conservation
Value
Sensitivity
Designated Sites
Craigengar SAC
and SSSI
The SSSI is located approximately 3.2 km south of
the site and the SAC 4 km, and is designated for dry
heath, species rich grassland and its marsh saxifrage.
International
High
Cobbinshaw
Moss SSSI
This site is located 600 m south-west of the site
boundary and is designated for its bog habitats.
National
High
Cobbinshaw
reservoir SSSI
This site is located 3.2 km south-west of the site
boundary and is designated for its fen, marsh, swamp
and wildfowl interest.
National
High
Linhouse valley
SSSI
This site is located 3.2km north of the site and is
designated for its acid and neutral grasslands,
National
High
March 2013 11-27 ES Chapter 11
Terrestrial Ecology
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