Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
3.5.10 The initial 14 turbine layout as shown in Figure 3.5 was prepared based only on physical
spacing within the developable area using the requisite turbine separation distances. As
discussed above, turbines originally located in the “developable area” to the south east of the
A70 were excluded as, although not significantly physically constrained, it was assessed that
landscape and policy constraints would preclude development in this area.
3.5.11 Following the formulation of the initial design, a Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV) was
generated in order to identify the extent of visibility of the scheme and to identify viewpoints
from which the effects of the wind farm could be assessed and the design of the wind farm
refined.
Intermediate Design
Overview
3.5.12 Following the establishment of the Initial Design, a scoping report, as described in Chapter 2:
The EIA and Scoping Process, was submitted to West Lothian Council. The scoping report
included the intermediate developable area shown in Figure 3.2 which had been adjusted
from the Initial Design boundary to exclude the scheduled ancient monuments (SAMs) on site
and, whilst the suggested turbine layout was not included, it was stated that it was intended
for “up to 14 turbines” to be developed on the site i.e. the Initial Design layout.
3.5.13 It was intended that, where relevant, the results of consultations with relevant authorities
(primarily SNH, Historic Scotland and West Lothian Council) would inform the next stage of
design, along with an initial assessment of the constraints on site and design workshop
focussed on defining an optimum Final Design. These are discussed further below.
Initial Risk Assessment
3.5.14 The work in DP1, as described in Section 3.3 above, included assessment of constraints that
could potentially, and significantly, affect development on the Camilty site. The following
constraints were considered key to the design process:
• Cultural Heritage/Archaeology – two Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs) were
located within the site, and other areas of archaeological interest were located on the
site;
• Noise – due regard would need to be paid to nearby noise sensitive receptors (NSRs)
with additional consideration of potential cumulative noise impacts in combination with
other wind farms in the vicinity;
• Landscape / Visual – potential visual impacts of the turbines on the visual and
landscape character perspective of the Pentlands AGLV/ Regional Park;
• Policy – the Pentlands is designated as an Area of Great Landscape Value and
Regional Park and therefore heavily protected by policies within the Development
Plan;
• Peat – ground stability risks and a peat managed e.g. minimising the need for peat
extraction would be key considerations;
• Ecology – the potential for impacts on nearby Craigengar Special Area of
Conservation (SAC) / Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and 4 other SSSIs
within 3 km of the site would need to be considered;
March 2013 3-10 ES Chapter 3
Design Evolution
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