Scoping Report - Partnerships for Renewables

20.05.2014 Views
Blairadam Wind Farm Environmental Impact Assessment: Scoping Report January 2012 Potentially significant effects 6.5.20 The following will form the main focus of the landscape, visual and cumulative assessments of the proposed wind farm: The effect of the development on the landscape of the Cleish Hills and the associated cSLA (assuming that the adoption of the local plan abolishes the existing AGLV); The general effect on local and wider landscape character and the suitability of local Upland landscape type to accommodate a development of the scale being considered; An assessment of cumulative effects with other operational, consented and proposed wind farms in the area; and Visual effects on settled areas (principally to the east and south). 6.5.21 The design of the layout and the landscape and visual effects of the final scheme will be specifically considered in relation to; The reasons given for the designation of the Cleish Hills cSLA in the Statement of Importance; and The criteria and consideration outlined in the Ash Capacity Study, Policy R1 of the Structure Plan and Section 8 of the Fife Wind Energy SPG of 2011. Potential mitigation and enhancement measures 6.5.22 Opportunities will be sought to minimise any adverse landscape and visual effects through an iterative approach to the siting of the individual turbines and the overall layout of the associated infrastructure together with the design of the forest planting. It is unlikely that off site planting would be recommended to reduce the visual effect of the proposed development. The assessment of residual landscape and visual effects is therefore likely to be based on mitigation embedded within the final design and layout of the proposed development inclusive of the amended Forest Design Plan. Ecology Policy context and guidance 6.6.1 The assessment will take account of the requirements of, and advice given in: Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (the Habitats Directive) as transposed into Scots law by The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c) Regulations 1994 (as amended in Scotland) (The Habitats Regulations); Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended); The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004; The Protection of Badgers Act 1992; The Consolidated Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) (February 2010) Landscape and Natural Heritage; January 2012 48 Sinclair Knight Merz (Europe) Ltd Copyright Partnerships for Renewables Development Co. Ltd 2011 ©

Blairadam Wind Farm Environmental Impact Assessment: Scoping Report January 2012 PAN 60: Planning for Natural Heritage (Scottish Govt, 2000), which provides advice on how development and the planning system can improve the natural environment; Commission, 2009); Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM) guidelines for ecological impact assessment in the UK (IEEM, 2006); The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP); and The Scottish Biodiversity List. Methodology 6.6.2 A key consideration in assessing the effects of any development on ecology and nature conservation interests is to define the areas of land cover and the species and habitats that need to be considered in the assessment. The importance of this lies in two inter-related considerations: A development can affect habitats and species directly (e.g. the land-take required) and indirectly (e.g. disturbance), the effects potentially extending beyond the development site boundaries; It is impractical for an ecological assessment to consider every individual species and habitat that may potentially be affected, rather it should focus on species and habitats that are valued in some way (e.g. designated nature conservation sites, habitats or species identified as having priority value in biodiversity terms, species protected by specific legislation or species which have economic value) and which could potentially be affected by the proposed development. 6.6.3 It is against this background that the scope of this assessment has been defined and will evolve throughout the assessment process. 6.6.4 The preliminary desk study will be updated with records from the site and surrounding area up to 2km (up to 10km for bats) to obtain any available information relating to statutory and nonstatutory nature conservation sites, notable habitats and species, and legally protected and controlled species. These are the sites, habitats and species that are of sufficient importance that effects upon them could be significant. Information will also be requested on additional sites, habitats or species which are the subject of relevant planning policies to ensure compliance with planning policy. This information will be sought from relevant organizations, including Scottish Wildlife Trust and Fife and Kinross Bat Group. 6.6.5 As described above, a Phase 1 Habitat Survey was undertaken in March 2011 in accordance with standard Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) methodology, albeit slightly outside the optimum time of Phase 1 survey, from April to September, inclusive. However, sensitive habitats with the potential to be affected by the proposed development will be subject to Phase 2 botanical surveys (see below) and the early date of the Phase 1 survey is therefore not considered a limitation. 6.6.6 Following on from the extended Phase 1 Survey, bat surveys have been carried out by RPS between June and October 2011. Two walkover transects were walked monthly from June to October and two unattended data recorders were left in the field for two week periods on two occasions (in June/July and August/September). Survey data are currently being analysed and January 2012 49 Sinclair Knight Merz (Europe) Ltd Copyright Partnerships for Renewables Development Co. Ltd 2011 ©

Page 1 and 2: Scoping Report January 2012

Page 3 and 4: Blairadam Wind Farm Environmental I
























Page 51: Blairadam Wind Farm Environmental I








Page 69 and 70: KEY: Blairadam Wind Farm Site Bound

Page 71 and 72: KEY: ! Proposed Turbine Locatoins P







Page 85: Blairadam Wind Farm Environmental I

environmental

january

assessment

landscape

blairadam

scoping

renewables

fife

visual

copyright

partnerships

www.pfr.co.uk

Scoping Report - Partnerships for Renewables

Scoping Report - Partnerships for Renewables ... View more Scoping Report - Partnerships for Renewables

Delete template?

Save as template ?

Scoping Report - Partnerships for Renewables Scoping Report - Partnerships for Renewables