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High Brenfield Wind Farm

Low Carbon is proposing a new wind farm development, known as High Brenfield Wind Farm, located on land approximately 2km south-west of Ardrishaig, near Lochgilphead and entirely within the Argyll & Bute Local Authority area.

In Development

Welcome to

High Brenfield Wind Farm

Angus Thomson

Project Development Manager

Low Carbon is proposing a new wind farm development, known as High Brenfield Wind Farm, located on land approximately 2km south-west of Ardrishaig, near Lochgilphead and entirely within the Argyll & Bute Local Authority area.

The Proposed Development site is free from national designation and currently operates as a commercial forestry plantation of predominantly non-native species.

The recently constructed Inverary to Crossaig 275 kV overhead electricity transmission line crosses the eastern part of the development site from north to south.

The Proposed Development will have a maximum generating capacity of greater than 50 megawatts (MW).

A Scoping submission to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit seeking consultees opinions on the scope of environmental assessments was made in November 2023.

View the Scoping submission and the Energy Consents Unit’s Scoping Opinion here:

Scottish Government (Energy Consents Unit) application

News

Swipe left/right to browse news relating to the project

Thank you

Low Carbon would like to extend our sincere thanks to all those who attended the High Brenfield Wind Farm 2nd public exhibitions on 23rd and 24th of October in Ardrishaig and Lochgilphead.


We enjoyed discussing the proposed development with local residents and community stakeholders and have captured a lot of valuable feedback.

If you attended one of the exhibitions but haven't yet submitted a feedback form, you can still do this via our the High Brenfield Wind Farm website, or via post to: FREEPOST: LOW CARBON UK WIND TEAM.

High Brenfield 2nd Exhibition dates - 23rd and 24th October

Low Carbon is delighted to confirm that we will be hosting a second round of public exhibitions in relation to High Brenfield Wind Farm.

The exhibitions will present up-to-date technical and environmental information and will provide the opportunity for local community stakeholders to provide feedback on the development.

The dates, times and locations of the exhibitions are as follows:


Wednesday 23rd October

Ardrishaig North Hall 3pm to 7pm

Thursday 24th October

Lochgilphead Baptist Church Hall 3pm to 7pm

We look forward to discussing our proposals with interested parties in greater detail. We look forward to seeing you at our second public exhibitions.

If you are unable to attend in person, the exhibition materials will also be published to this website on 23rd October.

You can leave us feedback and comments on High Brenfield Wind Farm at any time in the following ways:

By going to the Feedback and Contacting us section on this website

By email to: info@highbrenfieldwindfarm.co.uk

By post to: FREEPOST Low Carbon UK Wind Team

Volunteering update

Angus, Toby, Jo and Ben of the Low Carbon UK Wind Team spent a day volunteering at the Mid Argyll MS Centre. The MS Centre team were quick to put them to work painting benches, power washing monoblock, clearing, weeding and planting the garden and clearing out the shed. The Low Carbon team were hugely grateful for the opportunity to support the MS Centre, and enjoyed meeting and chatting with many of the Centre’s members.

Low Carbon is one of the leading B Corps in the UK and currently ranks in the top 5% of B Corps globally for Governance and Environmental impact. This achievement demonstrates Low Carbon’s ethos as a purpose-led company and its commitment to meeting strict criteria in the environment, social and governance space.

Ardrishaig Gala Day

Members of the Low Carbon Team were delighted to attend Ardrishaig Gala Day on Saturday 17th August. It was fantastic to experience first-hand the strength of community spirit in Ardrishaig.

Well done to all those involved in the organisation of the event and thank you for letting us share your day.

Site Design Progress Update - July 2024

Low Carbon submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Request to Scottish Ministers in relation to High Brenfield Wind Farm in November 2023 and received an EIA Scoping Opinion in February 2024.

The design iteration process for the project has been continuing since the EIA Scoping Request was submitted and the comments provided within the EIA Scoping Opinion have allowed us to further refine our site layout design.

As such, we are able to advise that the proposed development has now reached a ‘Design Chill’ layout which comprises of 15no. turbines, 200m to blade tip. This is a reduction in both the number of turbines and the tip height when compared with the Scoping design of 17no. turbines 220m to blade tip.

We have now commenced our next phase of EIA surveys and technical assessments with a view to achieving ‘Design Freeze’ by the end of the summer. We continue to engage with consultees and local stakeholders in relation to the development and propose to hold a second public exhibition event later this year.

Contact Us

Proposed Development

The Proposed Development is expected to comprise up to 14 stand-alone, three bladed horizontal axis wind turbines. The number and location of the turbines is yet to be finalised and will be subject to an ongoing iterative design process.

The Proposed Development will also include habitat restoration and enhancement measures which will be further defined during the EIA process.

Any predicted environmental effects arising from the Proposed Development will be mitigated as far as reasonably possible. Where necessary, additional specific mitigation measures will be committed to further reduce adverse effects during the construction, operational and decommissioning phases of the development.

Low Carbon champions biodiversity as a critical milestone on the journey towards a low-carbon future and is committed to including within the Proposed Development a comprehensive land and biodiversity management programme, aligned to the unique conditions and circumstances of the site.

Benefits of Low Carbon Development

Across our portfolio of renewable energy projects, we have championed biodiversity as a critical milestone on the journey towards a low-carbon future.

Onshore wind is one of the cheapest sources of electricity in the UK. Cheaper to produce than gas, nuclear, coal and other renewables. Wind resource is plentiful in Scotland and can be utilised to provide security of supply and add to the renewable energy generation mix.

The Global Climate Emergency - Scotland's Response

Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham's statement – Published 14th May 2019:

“Scotland’s response to the climate emergency must be hardwired into our national psyche. We must take this journey together, seize the economic opportunities available to us and redefine what world leadership means, not just as a government but as a country. Scotland has declared a global climate emergency and now Scotland must act as one to safeguard our planet for future generations.”

Onshore wind: policy statement 2022 – Published 21st December 2022:

“This statement, which is the culmination of an extensive consultative process with industry, our statutory consultees and the public, sets an overall ambition of 20 GW of installed onshore wind capacity in Scotland by 2030.”

Second Virtual Exhibition

Welcome to the second Public Exhibition for our proposals at High Brenfield Wind Farm. The materials presented here are consistent with what we are presenting at our in person events.

This information provides an overview of how the proposals at High Brenfield have been refined since Scoping as further studies, site surveys and stakeholder and community engagement has been undertaken. Key design modifications include removal of three turbines and a tip height reduction from 220m to 200m.

Please note: Any comments made to Low Carbon at this stage are not representations to the Scottish Ministers. If Low Carbon submits an application in relation to the Proposed Development, there will be an opportunity to make representations to Scottish Ministers during the statutory consultation period after the formal submission.
Click to view the First Virtual Exhibition

First Virtual Exhibition

Welcome to the first Public Exhibition for our proposals at High Brenfield Wind Farm.

This information provides an overview of the Scoping proposals at High Brenfield which will be refined as further studies, site surveys and stakeholder and community engagement is undertaken.

We are holding second Public Exhibitions in October 2024, and materials from those events will be published here.

Please note: Any comments made to Low Carbon at this stage are not representations to the Scottish Ministers. If Low Carbon submits an application in relation to the Proposed Development, there will be an opportunity to make representations to Scottish Ministers during the statutory consultation period after the formal submission.

FAQs

Low Carbon is the developer of this project and we share as much information as possible during the lifetime of our projects.

Here is a selection of questions that have been asked relating to wind farm installations/builds. These will be updated throughout the project.

Why has Low Carbon chosen this site for High Brenfield wind farm?

Low Carbon has the target of creating 20GW of new renewable energy capacity globally by 2030, in order to combat the effects of climate change, and to achieve this Low Carbon is pursuing a portfolio of wind farm development opportunities across the UK. High Brenfield is one of many proposed development locations being considered for wind farm development by Low Carbon. The proposed location has a strong wind resource, few environmental constraints, no statutory designations and is located within a commercial forestry plantation. A full Environmental Impact Assessment will be undertaken by qualified independent specialists before any planning application is made to the Scottish Ministers.

How will visual impacts on residential properties and key visual receptors be assessed?

A Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) chapter will be included as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR). The LVIA will be carried out in accordance with the Landscape Institute’s Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (Third Edition) and NatureScot Visual Representation of Wind Farms Guidance. Following our Scoping submission we have considered feedback from Ardrishaig Community Council, Argyll & Bute Council and NatureScot and have included a number of additional LVIA viewpoints as a result. The LVIA will consider effects on visual receptors within the LVIA study area, including views from settlements, footpaths, cycle routes, roads and water-based receptors. Effects on residential properties within 2 km of the proposed turbines will be assessed in the Residential Visual Amenity Assessment (RVAA) that will be included in an appendix to the LVIA chapter. Since sharing our Scoping layout, we have reduced the number of turbines (from 17 to 14) and the tip height of the development (from 220m to 200m) which has reduced the visual impact on the settlements of Ardrishaig, Lochgilphead and Inverneill.

How will impacts on residential properties closest to the development be assessed?

Residential visual amenity will be assessed in accordance with the Landscape Institute’s Technical Guidance Note on Residential Visual Amenity Assessment (RVAA). The RVAA will consider the potential visual effects on all properties within 2km of the proposed turbines. Where the potential for a significant visual effect is identified, a separate judgement will made about whether the Proposed Development would change the visual amenity to such an extent that it would become overbearing and a matter of Residential Amenity. Where deemed necessary and appropriate we have visited specific properties to understand the potential effects on that, and surrounding properties and may seek to visit further properties if required.

Will High Brenfield Wind Farm turbines measure 220m to blade tip?

The design iteration process for the project has been continuing since the Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Request was submitted in November 2023 and and the scheme now comprises 14 turbines at 200 metres to blade tip.

This is a reduction in both the quantity of turbines and the tip height when compared with the Scoping scheme of 17 turbines at 220 metres to blade tip.

Will the proposed High Brenfield turbines be taller than any wind turbines currently operational in the UK?

No. There are numerous consented, in-construction and operational UK wind farms which feature turbines with tip heights of 200m and more. For example, Kype Muir Extension in South Lanarkshire is operational with 8 turbines at 200m tip height, as is Longhill Burn Wind Farm in West Lothian.

Will the wind farm generate noise when it’s operational?

All operational wind farms generate noise, however based on the current layout design and candidate turbine, the relevant ETSU-R-97 noise limits will not be breached at any residential property. Meeting the relevant noise limits doesn’t mean that operational noise will not be audible, but it does ensure that the levels are considered to be acceptable.

Can infrasound generated by the wind farm impact human health?

Audible operational noise from operational wind farms is fully assessed as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR).

Audible operational noise is controlled via the noise limits imposed by ETSU-R-97.

How will construction noise be considered and controlled?

Construction noise will be assessed in the Environmental Impact Assessment and will be controlled via planning conditions and the local authority Environmental Health department. There will be a commitment to meet the relevant noise limits set out in BS 5228-1:2009+A1:2014 Code of Practice for Noise and Vibration Control on Construction and Open Sites. Noise will also be considered within the Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) which will be prepared prior to construction commencing. The CEMP will contain details of how the relevant noise limits will be met during the construction phase.

Will our drinking water be affected by the proposed Wind Farm’s proximity to the Private Water Supplies?

We are continuing to consult Scottish Water regarding the design of the wind farm to ensure that any potential water quality effects are appropriately mitigated. Through the design process we have removed one turbine, one crane hardstanding and 400m of track from the Kilduskland DWPA, when compared with our previous layout iteration. A bespoke, enhanced drainage strategy is being developed for construction works within the DWPA with protection of the catchment considered to be a hard constraint to the Proposed Development. Scottish Water have published Guidance for development of infrastructure within DWPA’s which will form the minimum standards to be utilized in the drainage design.

A targeted Private Water Supplies Risk Assessment is to be undertaken which will review in detail every known Private Water Supply within the development area. The CEMP, produced as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment, will set out in detail the commitments, safeguards and precautions to minimise potential pollution risk from the development during the construction phase.

A bespoke drainage strategy is to be developed for the site in accordance with industry standard guidance and will cover potential hydrological / pollution impacts to the lnverneill Burn Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Kilduskland Reservoir Drinking Water Protection Area (DWPA).

Will shadow flicker be experienced within the vicinity of the development?

Shadow Flicker effects are usually only experienced under very specific climatic conditions, however shadow flicker will be fully assessed within the EIAR. The Scottish Government’s ‘Onshore wind turbines: planning advice’ and industry standard guidance states that shadow flicker effects may be experienced within a distance equal to 10x rotor diameter from the turbine. Therefore in the case of High Brenfield Wind Farm the EIA shadow flicker study area will be 1,550m, which excludes most residential properties and Ardrishaig Primary School.

Will the wind farm have a detrimental impact on the surrounding environment?

We have completed a thorough program of baseline environmental surveys and will assess any impacts resulting from the development within the EIAR. The site is currently operated as a commercial coniferous forestry plantation, which is of low ecological value in terms of biodiversity. Therefore, Low Carbon believes that High Brenfield Wind Farm presents an opportunity to significantly enhance biodiversity across the site through native tree planting and peat bog restoration.

How will construction traffic and turbine deliveries access the High Brenfield Wind Farm site and will it cause further landslides in the area?

The government, local authority and police manage the impacts on roads. Low Carbon will be subject to their guidance and management and will provide assessment in the Transport chapter of the Environmental Impact Assessment report.

We anticipate turbines being delivered by sea into Campbeltown Harbour, before travelling north along the A83 to the site access location. We are continuing to assess two different access options (see Transport and Access figure on the High Brenfield Wind Farm website) in order to identify the best solution. We will confirm our chose site access location in due course.

Low Carbon will seek to minimise the level of traffic generated by the development through measures such as maximising the use of on-site borrow pits to reduce the amount of stone that is brought to site by road and these details will be contained in the Traffic Management Plan (TMP) . The Proposed Development will temporarily generate additional traffic during the construction period which will be assessed in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report.

Will wind farm traffic cause further landslides in the area?

The instances of landslides on both the A83 and the A816 to the north of Lochgilphead are directly linked to weather events, and whilst unfortunate for all who are impacted, the responsibility for management and maintenance of these roads lies with Transport Scotland and Argyll and Bute Council respectively. The wind farm related traffic will not cause further landslides.

We anticipate turbines being delivered by sea into Campbeltown Harbour, before travelling north along the A83 to the site access location. We are continuing to assess two different access options (see Transport and Access figure on the High Brenfield Wind Farm website) in order to identify the best solution. We will confirm our chose site access location in due course

Will batteries feature as part of this planning application, and if so, what is being done to mitigate the risk of fire?

It is not currently anticipated that batteries will feature within the High Brenfield Wind Farm Section 36 submission.

Has the site been chosen due to its proximity to the transmission line?

The presence of the 275kV transmission line which transects the eastern side of the proposed development site from north to south has no material benefit to the project and is not a factor in the site’s suitability for wind farm development.

Where will the project connect to the electricity grid?

A grid connection application has been submitted for the Proposed Development. Once a grid connection offer is accepted, we can confirm the location at which the wind farm will connect to the electricity grid.

Initial discussions with the grid operators indicate that the development may connect into the new Craig Murrail substation located north of Lochgilphead.

When will the wind farm be connected to the grid?

A grid connection application has been submitted for the Proposed Development, however an offer has not yet been accepted. Early discussions indicate that the grid connection date is likely to be in 2034 due to wider transmission grid reinforcement works.

Will the wind farm impact property prices?

Industry research has been conducted in relation to the impact of wind farms on residential property values. Research commissioned by the Scottish Government and led by ClimateXChange concluded that there was no “consistent evidence of a negative impact of wind turbines on house price growth”. Further research will be conducted into this matter and findings will be presented within the Socio-economic, Tourism and Recreation (SeTR) assessment.

Will the wind farm impact tourism?

There is no evidence that wind farms adversely affect tourism.

A research study conducted by BiGGAR Economics in 2021: Wind Farms & Tourism Trends in Scotland: Evidence from 44 Wind Farms collated evidence in order to establish whether there was a link between wind farm development and tourism trends.

The study concluded that there is no evidence of a link between wind farm development and trends in tourism, and in many cases the tourism industry grew at the same time as wind farm development activity increased.

What are the timescales for this proposed development?

Low Carbon is holding second public exhibitions in October 2024, and feedback from this exhibition will be used to inform our final design.

Low Carbon is aiming to submit a Section 36 application in Q1 2025.

How much will the Community Benefit be and how will it be distributed to the Ardrishaig community and local area?

Low Carbon are committed to supporting the communities that neighbour our wind farms and commits to delivering £5,000 per megawatt of installed capacity per year (index linked) for the wind farm’s operational lifetime, in line with Scottish Government good practice guidance.

At this early stage in the development process it is important to stress that no decision has been made about how the funds from High Brenfield Wind Farm will be administered and distributed. This decision will only be taken after an extended period of consultation with the communities that neighbour the wind farm.Consultation with a wide range of stakeholders is a cornerstone of both Low Carbon’s approach, and the Scottish Government’s good practise principles in delivering benefits from wind farms.

If approved, High Brenfield Wind Farm will provide direct benefits to the local area through a long-term community benefit fund which also opens up opportunities to develop and deliver green skills and jobs in the local area. The project team would expect to explore opportunities for investment in skills development and utilisation of the local supply chain to maximise the positive economic impact locally.

Will you offer community shared ownership?

Low Carbon is committed to offering shared community ownership in line with Scottish Government Best Practice and it is our intention to work with community groups to explore community shared ownership opportunities.

Funding, advice and support is available for communities considering shared ownership, and we would encourage any interested parties to visit the Local Energy Scotland website for more information.

https://localenergy.scot/

Will my TV signal be impacted?

The potential for adverse effects on domestic television reception is greatly diminished post digital switchover, which completed across the UK in 2012 and therefore the likelihood of significant effects is minimal. In the unlikely event that properties in this area experienced adverse effects on terrestrial TV reception, alternative signals are available from the Bellanoch and Torosay transmitters, to the north, which would be unaffected by the wind farm.

Will the site be accessible to the public?

We are eager to explore ideas with Ardrishaig Community Council regarding opportunities for enhanced public access and recreational facilities. We will work with the Argyll and Bute Council’s Access Officer to ensure the relevant access right are maintained.

Will you be planting trees?

As part of the Environmental Impact Assessment Low Carbon will be required to demonstrate biodiversity net gain (i.e. that biodiversity is improved as a result of the development, in comparison to the pre-commencement baseline survey). There are multiple ways in which biodiversity net gain can be achieved, which will be assessed within the Environmental Impact Assessment. One method which will be explored is the planting of native woodland in suitable locations.

Does Low Carbon get paid to switch off the wind farm?

There may be occasions in which the level of electricity generation significantly exceeds the rate of electricity consumption. In these instances it is possible that the wind farm is curtailed in order to balance the electricity grid and avoid outages. When the wind farm is curtailed, and therefore unable to export electricity onto the grid, the developer is reimbursed for lost revenue.

How does energy generated by onshore wind farms benefit Scotland?

Onshore wind is one of the cheapest sources of electricity in the UK. Cheaper to produce than gas, nuclear, coal and other renewable technologies. Wind resource is plentiful in Scotland and can be utilised to provide security of supply and add to the renewable energy generation mix. The production of onshore wind energy assists the Scottish Government in achieving their carbon reduction targets, delivers significant economic benefit to communities in the form of community benefit and community shared ownership, as well as creating jobs, supply chain opportunities and significant business rates.

When will the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) be available for review?

The EIAR can only be drafted once the wind farm layout is frozen, which we haven’t done yet as we wanted to incorporate feedback from the community into our design process.

Once the design is frozen, the EIAR can be drafted and it will be available publicly when we submit our Section 36 application.

Following the submission of the application, the full EIAR and all supporting technical appendices, assessments and planning documents will be freely and publicly available through both the Energy Consents Unit and the Argyll and Bute Council Planning Portals.

How do I comment on the proposal?

Feedback on the proposal can be supplied directly to Low Carbon via our online feedback form which can be found on the High Brenfield Wind Farm website. Feedback can also be provided in-person at our second public exhibitions in October 2024. Once a Section 36 application has been submitted to the Scottish Ministers, representations can also be made via the Energy Consents Unit online portal.

Please note: Any comments made to Low Carbon at this stage of the planning process are not formal representations to Scottish Ministers.

If Low Carbon submits a Section 36 Application, there will be an opportunity to make representations to Scottish Ministers during the statutory consultation period (following submission of the Application).