Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
Government Planning Advice - Onshore Wind Turbines with regard to shadow flicker within
Technical Annex 8, paragraph 73 – 77 of the Companion Guide.
West Lothian Council Supporting information required for Wind Turbine Applications
that do not require Environmental Impact Assessment
14.3.6 There is no mention of shadow flicker in the West Lothian Local Plan (2009). However, West
Lothian Supporting information required for Wind Turbine Applications that do not require
Environmental Impact Assessment indicates that planning applications should take:
• Consideration of any potential impacts of shadow flicker.
Baseline Conditions
14.3.7 A study area of ten times the maximum proposed turbine rotor diameter of 104 m, totalling
1040 m, was applied to each turbine location and mapped using GIS software. The study
area was then further refined to only include areas within 130 degrees either side of north of
each turbine location to obtain the zone of potential shadow flicker as presented on Figure
14.1.
14.3.8 No residential properties were identified within the zone of potential shadow flicker as shown
on Figure 14.1, the nearest being “Halfway house” on the A70.
14.4 Design Evolution
14.4.1 The location of residential properties was identified early in the design process. This allowed
any properties with the potential to be affected by shadow flicker to be identified during
successive iterations of the layout, as described in Chapter 3: Design Evolution.
14.4.2 The shadow flicker model was re-run throughout the design iteration process to ensure that
any properties within the zone of potential shadow flicker were highlighted. The final 6
turbine wind farm layout as proposed does not result in any potentially sensitive receptors
located within the zone of potential shadow flicker.
14.5 Potential Significant Effects of the Scheme Prior to Mitigation
14.5.1 As no inhabited properties were identified within the zone of potential shadow flicker, no
significant effects have been identified.
14.6 Mitigation and Enhancement Measures
14.6.1 No mitigation measures are required.
14.6.2 However, should residential properties just outwith the potential shadow flicker zone
experience problems with shadow flicker once the wind farm is operational (for example,
should micrositing of a turbine shift a property into the zone), a reassessment of the potential
for shadow flicker will be made.
14.6.3 Until the turbine locations and parameters are precisely defined (following micrositing and the
turbine selection process), and the wind turbines are operating, neither the requirement for,
nor exact details of mitigation can be finalised. Some potential solutions are set out below.
14.6.4 If shadow flicker effects occur in practice at a particular property, it does not immediately
follow that mitigation is required. Such effects will need to occur in a room that was occupied
March 2013 14-3 ES Chapter 14
Shadow Flicker
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