Ardchonnel Wind Farm. Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary. November 2013

Transcription

1 Ardchonnel Wind Farm Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary November 2013

2 Contents Introduction 2 Renewable Energy Policy 3 Environmental Impact Assessment 4 Site Selection and Design Strategy 4 The Development Proposal 5 Scoping and Consultation 6 Landscape and Visual Assessment 7 Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Geology and Peat 7 Ecology 8 Ornithology 9 Noise 10 Cultural Heritage 10 Access, Traffic and Transport 11 Socio-Economics and Tourism 11 Aviation and Defence, Infrastructure and Telecommunications 12 Carbon Balance 13 Summary 13 Ardchonnel Wind Farm Non-Technical Summary 1

3 Non-Technical Summary Introduction 1. RWE npower renewables (hereafter referred to as RWE NRL ) is applying to Argyll and Bute Council ( the planning authority) for planning permission to construct and operate Ardchonnel Wind Farm (hereafter referred to as the proposed wind farm ). The main components of the proposed wind farm comprise: 15 wind turbines up to 111m in height to blade tip; associated crane hardstandings (used during construction, operational maintenance and decommissioning); an external transformer at the base of each turbine; widening and upgrading of the existing An Suidhe Wind Farm access track to accommodate larger turbine components than are installed at An Suidhe; approximately 12km of permanent new tracks from An Suidhe Wind Farm; 15 permanent new water crossings associated with access tracks; underground cabling within the site running in trenches alongside the access tracks; a permanent anemometry (met) mast and associated foundations and hardstanding; and a control building and substation compound including electrical store and office. Two temporary anemometer masts, erected on assessed and approved turbine locations, may be required for calibration purposes during the construction of the proposed wind farm. Up to five temporary onsite borrow pits for the extraction of stone will be required, to be accessed via short spurs off the main access track network but these will be the subject of a separate application for planning permission. The area within the red line application boundary (hereafter referred to as the Site, see Figure 1) is approximately 6.5km north-west of Inveraray and 1.5km east of Loch Awe. 2. As the proposal has a generating capacity of less than 50 megawatts (MW), RWE NRL will submit an application for planning permission to Argyll and Bute Council under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, as amended. It is acknowledged that this application should be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) under Schedule 2 of The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 ( the EIA Regulations ) and is, therefore, accompanied by an Environmental Statement (ES). 3. RWE NRL is the UK subsidiary of RWE Innogy and one of the UK s leading renewable energy developers and operators, and is committed to developing and operating renewable energy projects to produce sustainable electricity. RWE NRL operates 21 hydroelectric power schemes, 25 onshore wind farms and two offshore wind farms, including the UK s first major offshore wind farm, North Hoyle. RWE NRL is currently constructing its first biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant in Fife, and the 576MW Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm, off the North Wales coast. 4. From development to construction and operation RWE NRL employs 453 staff in area offices across Scotland, Wales and England and works in close partnership with local communities and with companies. In 2012, renewable energy sites operated by RWE NRL invested nearly 1 million into communities across the UK. The investments made by RWE NRL in the UK are creating substantial new jobs opportunities, developing the supply chain and, importantly, helping the UK Government achieve the EU target of supplying 30% of electricity from renewables, by RWE Innogy pools the renewable energy expertise and generating plant of the RWE Group. RWE Innogy is fully committed to growth in renewable energy across Europe, and has a current pan- European pipeline of 12GW. The UK will continue to play a significant role in the delivery of this pipeline. 6. RWE NRL is a sister company to RWE npower, a leading UK energy company with around 6.8 million customer accounts. 7. In Scotland, RWE NRL operates 13 hydroelectric projects and 10 onshore wind projects. The company is also constructing the Markinch biomass CHP plant in Glenrothes, Fife, due to be completed later in Ardchonnel Wind Farm Non-Technical Summary 2

4 8. The ES presents information on the identification and assessment of the likely environmental impacts of the proposed wind farm. Further details of the statutory requirements for EIA are set out in Chapter 2: Approach to the EIA of the ES. 9. This Non-Technical Summary (NTS) summarises the findings and conclusions of the ES. 10. The ES has been prepared by LUC on behalf of RWE NRL. LUC produced the following ES chapters: Planning Policy Context; Landscape and Visual Assessment; Ecology; Aviation and Defence, Infrastructure and Telecommunications. 11. A number of sub-consultants undertook further specialist assessments as follows: Mott MacDonald undertook the Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Geology and Peat, Access, Traffic and Transport and Carbon Balance assessments; Direct Ecology undertook bat survey work and assessment; EnviroCentre undertook surveys and reporting for freshwater pearl mussels; Ben Averis Botanical Consultants undertook botanical survey, mapping and reporting; Waterside Ecology undertook fisheries surveys and reporting; Haworth Conservation undertook the Ornithology assessment; Hoare Lea Acoustics undertook the Noise assessment; CGMS undertook the Cultural Heritage assessment; Biggar Economics undertook the Socio-Economic and Tourism assessment; Pager Power provided expert advice on telecommunications; Osprey Consulting Services provided expert advice on aviation and defence. Renewable Energy Policy 12. The UK Government and the Scottish Government are committed to ensuring that an increased proportion of electricity is generated from wind power and other renewable energy sources. Improvements in technology and rising fossil fuel costs have resulted in the cost of wind power converging towards the costs of conventional sources of electricity. Further growth in the wind energy sector can therefore be expected. 13. Scotland in particular has a significant wind resource. The report Scotland's Renewable Resource 2001 considered a range of available renewable energy technologies examining associated development constraints and costs. The key conclusion in relation to onshore wind development was that the resource is widespread, is the cheapest of the technologies considered and on the basis of cost, onshore wind energy can be expected to contribute to the bulk of near-term government targets. 14. The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 aims for an 80% reduction in Scotland s greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and includes an interim target of a 42% reduction by 2020 (compared to 1990 levels). In 2007, the Scottish Government set a target for the supply of 50% of Scotland's electricity from renewable sources by In May 2011, the Scottish Government revised its targets and now aims to provide the equivalent of 100% of Scotland s electricity generation from renewable sources by 2020, with a further update in 2012 confirming a new interim target for renewable energy generation to account for the equivalent of 50% of Scottish demand by The proposed wind farm will make a contribution to the increase in renewable energy capacity in Scotland and towards meeting renewable energy targets, with an installed capacity of up to 45MW. The proposed wind farm will generate the equivalent of the annual average electricity use Ardchonnel Wind Farm Non-Technical Summary 3

5 of approximately 16,352 UK households 1. This is equivalent to 40.6% of households in Argyll and Bute Council area 2. It should be noted that this equivalent number of households calculated will vary depending on the site wind speeds and actual household electricity consumption. Environmental Impact Assessment 16. EIA involves the compilation, evaluation and presentation of any potentially significant environmental impacts resulting from a proposed development to assist the planning authority, statutory consultees, and the wider public when considering an application. Early identification of potentially adverse environmental impacts also leads to the identification and incorporation of appropriate mitigation measures into the scheme design to avoid, reduce and offset significant adverse environmental impacts. 17. Using the criteria in each of the ES chapters, the significance of the environmental impacts arising from the proposed wind farm have been categorised, where possible, as follows: Major (a fundamental change to the baseline condition of the receptor); Moderate (a detectable change resulting in the non-fundamental, temporary or permanent change in the condition of the receptor); Minor (a minor change in the baseline condition of the receptor; or a change that is temporary in nature); Negligible (an imperceptible and/or no change in the baseline condition of the receptor). 18. Major or moderate impacts are considered to be significant in the context of the EIA Regulations. Site Selection and Design Strategy 19. A number of factors influenced the selection of the site by RWE NRL: a good wind resource; the absence of any national or international statutory designations for landscape and nature conservation covering the site; the distance from settlements and residential properties; the ability to avoid direct impacts on nationally designated features of cultural heritage (such as Scheduled Monuments and Listed Buildings); accessibility for construction traffic and turbine deliveries; the nearby electricity transmission ( grid ) network; and the absence of aviation and military related constraints. 20. The Argyll and Bute Local Plan 2009 identifies the Site as being located within a Potentially Constrained Area for wind energy development where applications are neither supported nor resisted by the planning authority, but will be assessed on their merits under Policy LP REN 1. The Site is located in a Broad Area of Search for turbines over 80m to blade tip height in the Argyll and Bute Proposed (i.e. not yet adopted) Local Development Plan Wind Farm Policy Map, indicating the potential suitability of the site to accommodate a scheme such as Ardchonnel Wind 1 Equivalent homes supplied is based on annual electricity consumption per home of 4500 kwh. This figure is supported by recent domestic electricity consumption data available from The Digest of UK Energy Statistics and household figures from the UK Statistics Authority. Energy predicted to be generated by the proposal is based on an installed capacity of 30MW and a capacity factor of 28%. Said capacity factor consistent with that which DECC use as an average for Scotland. This represents the maximum case used in the assessment ( This is further supported by higher yields obtained from calculations undertaken using wind speeds monitored on site and correlated to an appropriate source of longer term data. The energy capture predicted and hence derived homes equivalent or emissions savings figures may change as further data are gathered. 2 This is based on a total of 40,253 households (2012 estimate from the National Records of Scotland Argyll & Bute Council Area Demographic Factsheet available at Ardchonnel Wind Farm Non-Technical Summary 4

6 Farm. For further information on the planning considerations affecting the site, see Chapter 5: Planning Policy Context. 21. Wind farm design must balance technical and environmental considerations, with the iterative EIA process acting as a tool to further refine the design process to achieve the most appropriate balance. 22. Wind turbines relate both to the form of the landscape in which they are located and to each another. The overarching aims of Ardchonnel Wind Farm design strategy were to create a wind farm with a cohesive design that relates to the form of the landscape, and to reduce potential impacts on views whilst also reducing impacts on identified ecological features and other environmental features. 23. The main components of the development considered in the early design stage were the turbines. Due to the form of turbines, as tall, man-made structures visible within a wide area, the strategy considered the appearance of the wind farm as an object or composition in the landscape and this was one of the primary factors in the layout design. 24. Informed by the emerging design of the turbine layout, other infrastructure features such as the access tracks were subsequently designed, taking account of the same onsite environmental parameters that informed the turbine locations. 25. Further details of the design strategy can be found in Chapter 3: Site Selection and Design Strategy. The Development Proposal 26. A site layout plan is shown in Figure 2a and 2b. The main components of the proposed wind farm comprise: 15 wind turbines up to 111m in height to blade tip; permanent foundations supporting each wind turbine; associated crane hardstandings at each wind turbine location (used during construction, operational maintenance and decommissioning); an external transformer at the base of each turbine; expansion of the existing An Suidhe Wind Farm bellmouth T junction for access from the A83 road; widening and upgrade of the existing An Suidhe Wind Farm access track to accommodate larger turbine components than are installed at An Suidhe; approximately 12.5km of permanent new tracks; 15 permanent new water crossings associated with access tracks; underground cabling within the site running in trenches alongside the access tracks; a permanent anemometry met mast up to 80m high and associated foundation and hardstanding; a control building and substation compound including electrical stores and offices. 27. In addition to the above components of the operational wind farm, the following components will be required during the construction phase: a temporary construction compound with laydown area (and temporary site and security offices and welfare facilities); up to five temporary onsite borrow pits, accessed by short spurs from the internal tracks, for the extraction of stone 3. 3 Argyll and Bute Council requires that a separate planning application is submitted for the borrow pits and this will be submitted at a later stage. However, five potential borrow pit locations have been identified and assessed within the ES. Ardchonnel Wind Farm Non-Technical Summary 5

7 28. It may also be necessary to erect two temporary anemometer masts for three to six months during the construction period for calibration purposes. These will be approximately the height of the proposed turbine hubs and will be located on the sites of two of the proposed turbines. No associated foundations, access or hardstanding will be required for these temporary structures. 29. The main access to the site will be from the A83 road, via the existing An Suidhe Wind Farm site access. 30. The site covers approximately 1,354 hectares (ha) and is used principally for sheep grazing. With the exception of the access track leading from Ardchonnel Farm, which provides the landowner access for 4x4 vehicles to the west of the site and An Suidhe Wind Farm access there are no footpaths or tracks within the site. The woodland surrounding the upgraded access track is managed commercially by the Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS). 31. It is anticipated that the proposed wind farm will take approximately 16 months to construct and an equivalent time to decommission. 32. Consent is being sought for a 25 year operating period which does not include the time required for construction or decommissioning. 33. The connection from the onsite wind farm substation into the grid network is likely to be made via a wood pole overhead line. The grid connection will be subject to a separate planning application by the electricity network operator (SHETL) for consent under Section 37 of the Electricity Act If required, an EIA will be undertaken by SHETL for the grid connection application. Scoping and Consultation 34. The purpose of EIA scoping and pre-application consultation is to: ensure that consultees are informed of the proposal and provided with an opportunity to comment at an early stage in the EIA process; obtain baseline information regarding existing environmental site conditions; establish key environmental issues and identify potential impacts to be considered during the EIA; identify those issues which are likely to require more detailed study and those which can be justifiably excluded from further assessment; and provide a means of confirming the most appropriate methods of assessment. Scoping 35. The scope of the EIA was informed by the Scoping Opinion provided by Argyll and Bute Council in August 2012, and related consultation responses received from key consultees including Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Historic Scotland (HS), and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). 36. In addition to the consultees contacted by Argyll and Bute Council during the formal scoping process, topic area specialists engaged in further consultation and contacted a number of other stakeholders to obtain background information to further inform the EIA and allow them the opportunity to raise any concerns that they might have in relation to the proposed wind farm. Consultation 37. The process of consultation is critical to the development of a comprehensive and balanced ES. Views of the statutory and non-statutory consultees serve to focus the environmental studies and to identify specific issues which may require further investigation. 38. Public consultation has played an important role. RWE NRL held three public exhibitions in February 2013 (Monday 18 February in Inveraray Parish Church Hall, Tuesday 19 February in Portsonnachan Village Hall and Wednesday 20 February in Dalavich Community Centre). Information about the exhibitions, along with project newsletters, were distributed to homes in the local area. The events were advertised locally and were publicised in local newspapers. Ardchonnel Wind Farm Non-Technical Summary 6

8 Exhibition boards presented an introduction to the EIA process and outlined the surveys and assessments undertaken. Staff from RWE NRL, LUC and McGann Greenwood Communications were present at the events to answer any questions from members of the public. Attendees were invited to complete feedback forms to provide input to the ongoing progression of the proposals. Information received at the public exhibitions was fed back to the assessment team and incorporated into the assessment and wind farm design process. Landscape and Visual Assessment 39. The landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA) considers the potential impacts of the proposed wind farm on landscape and visual resources of the site and the surrounding study area, during construction and operation. 40. The study area for the assessment was defined as 35km from the outermost turbines of the proposed wind farm in all directions, as agreed with SNH and Argyll and Bute Council. For the cumulative assessment, a review of patterns of development is also provided for wind farms out to 60km, as agreed with SNH. 41. During construction, the assessment identifies that there will be significant impacts on the landscape character and resources of the site and on landscape character within around 5km of the site. Loss of upland moorland, modifications to landform and the presence of tall cranes and partially built towers will result in direct changes to the site landscape over the 16 month construction period. 42. During operation, landscape and visual impacts have been reduced through detailed consideration of the design and layout of the wind turbines and associated infrastructure, including reduction in turbine tip heights. Impacts during construction will be further reduced through site restoration measures in accordance with good practice. However, there will be a significant residual impact on the character of the site and its surroundings (as detailed above). There will be significant visual impacts from Loch Awe, particularly to the west of the site (e.g. at Dalavich and Inverinan) and for recreational users of the south of Loch Awe (including water-based users, cyclists on the NCN Route 78, recreational users of the loch shore and of the network of paths within Inverliever Forest) and on the surrounding road network. Significant visual impacts are also identified for the views experienced by recreational users of Loch Avich and users of the minor road to the north of Loch Avich east of Kilmun. Significant visual impacts are identified up to distances of around 15km from the proposed turbines. 43. Areas from which the proposed wind farm will be visible in combination with consented wind farms and with wind farms which form the subject of submitted applications are generally limited across the study area, and no significant cumulative impacts are predicted. The proposed wind farm will frequently be visible in combination with the adjacent, operational, An Suidhe Wind Farm. Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Geology and Peat 44. The assessment of impacts on hydrology, hydrogeology, geology and peat has considered the potential impacts of pollution risk and of erosion and sedimentation on surface water and groundwater quality, and on public and private water supplies. Flood risk during the operation of Ardchonnel Wind Farm, and potential impacts upon peat hydrology during construction and operation of the proposed wind farm, have also been assessed. 45. The hydrological and hydrogeological study area comprises an area of 96km 2, as agreed with SEPA, encompasses five surface water catchments; Erallich Water, Kames River, Ardchonnel Burn, Allt Blarghour and Douglas Water. It extends from the shores of Loch Awe in the northwest, to Loch Fyne in the south-east, which are both fed by the aforementioned watercourses. The study area for geology and peat lies within this area and is defined by the site boundary. Ardchonnel Wind Farm Non-Technical Summary 7

9 46. A peat survey was undertaken at a 100m x 100m grid within the site boundary, as agreed with SEPA. The peat depth was found to be highly variable due to the local topography and further peat probing focused on the infrastructure locations confirmed this. 47. During the design process, all turbines and associated infrastructure (with the exception of watercourse crossings) were located a minimum of 50m from all watercourses. This constraint formed a key design consideration, decreasing the risk of potential impacts due to changes in runoff, sediment or water quality. The track layout was designed to reduce the number of new watercourse crossings, with 15 crossings being required in the final design iteration. Following design freeze, full targeted peat probing was carried out in order to avoid siting infrastructure on areas of deeper peat. 48. Good practice measures in relation to pollution control, sediment management and runoff rates and volumes will be adhered to during the construction and operation of the proposed wind farm. These will be incorporated into a site Construction Management Plan (CMP). A draft Peat Management Plan (PMP) is also included as an appendix to the ES. RWE NRL is committed to implementing the good practice measures, which form an integral part of the design and construction process, during the construction of the proposed wind farm. 49. In addition to the good practice measures proposed, specific mitigation to prevent pollution and erosion and sedimentation of the Kames River, Ardchonnel Burn and Allt Blarghour during construction will be implemented. This will include drain-blocking at specific locations and monitoring of major watercourses. During operation, flowpath management within the Kames River is proposed to reduce erosion and sedimentation impacts. Operational impacts on drainage and on surface water-groundwater interactions will be mitigated through drainage attenuation within the Kames River catchment. With the implementation of the good practice measures and specific mitigation outlined above, no significant impacts on hydrology are predicted. Ecology 50. The ecological assessment considered potential impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecology, including potential habitat loss and disturbance to protected species. 51. The study area extends to a combination of buffers from the proposed turbines, infrastructure and tracks, in line with best practice guidance. 52. Surveys relating to otter, water vole, badger, red squirrel, wildcat, pine marten and bats were carried out between May and October 2012, following best practice methodologies. An extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey was undertaken in August 2012 and a National Vegetation Classification (NVC) Survey took place in August and October 2012, with survey timing agreed with SNH. Fresh water pearl mussel surveys were carried out in March 2012 and fisheries surveys were undertaken in July and August Infrequent signs of otter presence were located across the site, suggesting that the site forms part of a wider otter territory. A number of water vole burrows were found within the study area. Limited badger foraging activity was recorded near the access track; however, the majority of the site is unsuitable for sett construction. With the exception of some limited areas along the access track, the site is generally unsuitable for red squirrel and it is likely that the suitable areas of habitat are being used infrequently as a food source. No suitable locations for den sites or signs of wildcat or pine marten were recorded during the surveys and the site is sub-optimal for bats with very low levels of bat activity recorded. The survey found no fresh-water pearl mussels to be present and fisheries surveys confirmed the presence of brown trout onsite. Impassable barriers to fish migration are present downstream of the site. 54. During the design process, the turbines and infrastructure were designed to reduce track length and reduce the footprint of construction activity (thus reducing habitat loss). A 50m buffer zone was also placed around all watercourses to reduce impacts on watercourses and water vole in accordance with good practice. The number of turbines and the overall development foot print was reduced to reduce impacts on GWDTEs. 55. It is predicted that 23.72ha (2.27% of the Phase 1 habitat survey study area) will be directly lost to construction; this includes blanket bog and four flushes. Impacts on blanket bog are Ardchonnel Wind Farm Non-Technical Summary 8

10 considered to be significant at the District level, and significant at the Local level for flushes, as per the criteria defined in Chapter 8: Ecology. Whilst potential impacts on water vole were identified at the Local level as a result of physical and noise disturbance; these are not predicted to be significant following the proposed mitigation. 56. An Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) will oversee construction to ensure that measures with regards to ecology are implemented. This will include pre-construction surveys, site inductions for construction personnel and the use of water crossings which allow mammal passage on watercourses where water vole were found to be present. A habitat management plan will be produced prior to construction of the proposed wind farm in consultation with SNH. Ornithology 57. The assessment of potential impacts on birds (ornithology) considered potential impacts relating to direct and indirect habitat loss, collision risk, disturbance during construction and cumulative impacts arising in combination with the operation of other wind farms. Particular attention has been paid to species of high or moderate conservation importance ( target species ). 58. A study area comprising the site plus a buffer zone of 2km was surveyed for all breeding birds, as agreed with SNH. 59. Breeding bird surveys were undertaken over a period of 24 months, incorporating two breeding seasons (2011 and 2012) and two wintering seasons (2010/2011 and 2011/2012). Vantage point surveys were undertaken at three locations from November 2010 until October A fourth vantage point was utilised from late July 2012 until February 2013 to provide additional context and further inform the assessment. 60. Breeding bird surveys in 2011 and 2012 recorded very few target species, comprising two pairs of curlews, two pairs of red-throated divers and one pair of ospreys. 61. Recorded flight activity from November 2010 until February 2013 included flights by golden eagles, white-tailed eagles, ospreys, merlins, peregrines, hen harrier, red-throated divers, pinkfooted geese, whooper swans and graylag geese. Goshawk and black grouse were each recorded on a single occasion. 62. The wind farm design was informed by a modelling exercise used to identify and protect areas most frequently used by golden eagles. The location of nesting birds was also taken into account in designing the wind farm. 63. Although the proposed wind farm is located around 7km to the south-west of the Glen Etive and Glen Fyne Special Protection Area (SPA), designated for golden eagle, neither SNH nor Argyll and Bute Council raised concerns with regard to likely significant effects on the SPA in their scoping responses. Observed data and eagle territory modeling demonstrates that the birds using the Site are not part of the SPA population and hence there is no connectivity to the SPA. Likely significant effects on the SPA are not predicted. 64. As the construction of the wind farm is programmed to last for approximately 16 months, disturbance from the construction activities could affect two breeding seasons (February August). All drilling and blasting will be timed to take place outside the breeding season, with the ECoW monitoring construction works taking place during the breeding bird season. No significant construction disturbance impacts are predicted. 65. No significant impacts are predicted on birds due to habitat loss during the operational phase of the wind farm. Collision risk calculations do not indicate any significant impacts for any of the bird species, either for the wind farm in isolation or cumulatively with other relevant wind farm schemes. 66. Monitoring of the location and breeding performance of all divers and raptors within 5km of the proposed wind farm will be undertaken in years 1-5, 10 and 15 of the operational phase of the wind farm. This work will be undertaken in line with SNH s Guidance on Methods for Monitoring Bird Populations at Onshore Wind Farms (2009). Ardchonnel Wind Farm Non-Technical Summary 9

11 Noise 67. The assessment of potential impacts on noise considered noise and cumulative noise generated during the construction phase from the operation of a range of construction plant and machinery and construction traffic. This will be temporary in nature, during the 16 month construction period. The assessment also considers noise during operation of the wind farm which is aerodynamic noise associated with the movement of the rotating blades through the air. Aerodynamic noise is usually only perceived when wind speeds are fairly low; in higher winds, aerodynamic noise is generally masked by the normal perception of wind noise disturbing vegetation. 68. The study area for the assessment extends to 3km from the proposed turbines for construction and operational noise, including cumulative impacts, in accordance with good practice. 69. The current noise environment is generally characterised by natural noise sources such as wind disturbed vegetation and birdsong, and occasional road traffic noise. Background noise monitoring was conducted between January 2013 and February 2013, at a single noise monitoring location agreed with the environmental health officer at Argyll and Bute Council. However, due to sustained rainfall which elevated the levels of noise from a nearby burn, a repeat survey was undertaken between June and July The layout of the wind farm has been developed to comply with established guidance on acceptable noise levels at local residential properties. 71. Mitigation measures relating to construction noise will be provided in the CMS. It is not considered likely that noise levels during construction will exceed acceptable limits. No significant operational noise impacts are predicted. Cultural Heritage 72. Cultural heritage assets include sites, features and areas with statutory and non-statutory designations, including Scheduled Monuments (SMs); Listed Buildings; Conservation Areas; Gardens and Designed Landscapes (Inventory and Non Inventory status); Non Statutory Register sites and other historic environment interests. The assessment considered direct impacts, such as removal of or damage to, features within the site, and indirect impacts on the setting of designated features in the surrounding landscape. 73. The study area for consideration of potential direct impacts comprised the area within the maximum extent of the proposed wind farm, including the access track. A wider study area extending 5km from the proposed turbines was defined to identify potential setting impacts, in accordance with good practice and professional judgement. Whilst outside the 5km boundary, an assessment of potential setting impacts on Inveraray Castle Category A-Listed building and Inventory Garden and Designed Landscape (IGDL) was also undertaken at the request of, and in agreement with, Historic Scotland. A desk based study of cultural heritage records was verified by site visits in July 2012 and January There are no designated assets within the site. Several non-designated assets were identified which relate to medieval or post-medieval agriculture and comprise shielings, enclosures and marker cairns. A 20m standoff from the limits of these assets was applied during the design phase as a buffer zone to prevent accidental damage. Subsequent design iterations have achieved a minimum 100m separation from heritage assets. There is low potential for unrecorded assets to be present within the site. 75. There are eleven SMs within the 5km study area; three chapels and their associated burial grounds, three crannogs, two enclosures, a castle, a dun and a long cairn. All are located around or on Loch Awe. As noted above, in addition to this, Inveraray Castle IGDL and Category A-Listed building is just outside the 5km study area. 76. There are no predicted significant impacts due to construction of the wind farm on cultural heritage assets within the site and no predicted significant impacts on the setting of any features Ardchonnel Wind Farm Non-Technical Summary 10

12 during operation, including cumulatively with the operational An Suidhe and Carraig Ghael Wind Farms (respectively some 3.6km and 9.8km from the Site). 77. Appropriate mitigation has been delivered through site design. Physical impacts have been avoided by adopting a 20m minimum staff-off distance between infrastructure and recognised assets (the final design has achieved a minimum of 100m). Impacts on Inveraray Castle were avoided through modifications to the wind farm layout and turbine height. A protocol will be established regarding the reporting of any new finds within the site during construction. Access, Traffic and Transport 78. The assessment of access, traffic and transport considers the potential impacts associated with the construction of Ardchonnel Wind Farm. It identifies the route proposed for the transportation of wind turbine components and construction materials and considers potential impacts on users of the public road network and on the wider community. 79. The study area for access, traffic and transport has been defined as the public road network in the vicinity of the proposed wind farm which will be used by traffic bound for the site. Beyond this area, assessment and professional judgement suggests that impacts relating to access, traffic and transport are unlikely to be significant. It is assumed that all stone required for the construction of the wind farm will be sourced from onsite borrow pits, reducing the traffic generated from the movement of material on the public road network. (It should be noted that the borrow pits will be the subject of a separate application for planning permission to Argyll and Bute Council.) 80. During construction, wind turbine components will need to be transported on vehicles capable of carrying abnormal loads (vehicles longer than 17m and/or wider than 4m). The preferred route for the transportation of turbine components will be along the A83 road from the port of Campbeltown to site. All vehicles will access the site via the existing An Suidhe Wind Farm access track from the A The traffic assessment has determined that no significant impacts are predicted upon traffic flow, the wider community or accident risk to other road users during the construction phase of the proposed wind farm. A Traffic Management Plan (TMP) will be implemented in the local area, in consultation with the relevant road authorities and the Police, to reduce the likelihood of congestion or disruption. 82. Once operational, wind farms typically generate very low levels of traffic so no significant impacts during operation are likely. 83. It is proposed that road condition surveys are completed pre and post construction to allow an appraisal of road infrastructure. Any deterioration agreed as attributable to the proposed wind farm, will be repaired and returned to the condition observed prior to construction, to be agreed with the roads authority. Socio-Economics and Tourism 84. The assessment of the potential social and economic impacts of the proposed wind farm considered potential impacts in relation to employment and economic benefits, tourism and recreation. 85. The assessment considered the potential economic impact of Ardchonnel Wind Farm on the economies of Argyll and Bute Council Area and Scotland. The assessment of potential impacts on tourism has been undertaken for the local area (10km from the outermost turbines of the proposed wind farm), for Argyll and Bute Council area and for Scotland in accordance with best practice. 86. A review of socio-economic characteristics found that the accommodation and food industry sector is the biggest contributor of employment in the local area. It also found that the Argyll and Bute Council area has capacity in the sectors that account for a high proportion of the wind farm construction supply chain such as construction. As such, it has the capacity to benefit from the Ardchonnel Wind Farm Non-Technical Summary 11

13 construction of the proposed wind farm and there is a potential positive impact in Argyll and Bute and Scotland resulting from this. 87. Overall, it is considered that the proposed Ardchonnel Wind Farm will support economic activity that is of strategic importance to Argyll and Bute and makes a substantive contribution to achieving Scotland s commitments to renewable energy. The proposed Ardchonnel Wind Farm represents a major investment with estimated construction expenditure of 44.3 million and a further 49.4 million in operating and maintenance expenditure over 25 years. Argyll and Bute could accrue construction contracts with a potential value of 3.2 million, which is equivalent to 7% of the estimated total construction spend of the proposed Ardchonnel Wind Farm. Scotland could accrue construction contracts totalling a potential 14.7 million, which is equivalent to 33% of the estimated construction spend. 88. During construction, disruption will be reduced through the implementation of a Traffic Management Plan. 89. Recent research findings indicate that tourism related employment in Argyll and Bute actually increased by 9.9% between 2008 and This increase is contrary to the national decline of 2.5%. During that period installed onshore wind energy capacity increased both locally and nationally. It is very unlikely that there will be a significant impact on tourism as a result of operation of the wind farm. Aviation and Defence, Infrastructure and Telecommunications Aviation 90. Once operational, wind farms can potentially affect navigation and surveillance systems (including radar). However, no significant impacts are predicted in relation to aviation and defence interests either during construction or operation, of Ardchonnel Wind Farm. Infrastructure 91. There is an overhead power line which passes through Ardchonnel Farm to the west of the site and another which crosses the access track. There is no gas or water infrastructure within the site boundary. No significant impacts on infrastructure are predicted as a result of construction or operation of the proposed wind farm; however, further checks will be required to ensure that a safe minimum overhead clearance of the overhead power line is maintained for turbine component delivery vehicles. Telecommunications 92. Wind turbines can potentially cause interference to telecommunications signals including microwave links managed by telecommunications operators. Consultation with telecommunications operators confirmed that there is one telecommunications link which crosses the west of the site. Turbines have been sited over 250m from this link in consultation and agreement with the relevant link operator. Television 93. Potential impacts on homes within the vicinity of the proposed Ardchonnel Wind Farm wind turbines were considered in the desk based television assessment. The online BBC Windfarm Tool, which provides an estimate of the population numbers potentially affected by the installation of wind turbines, indicated that no homes will potentially be affected. 94. Whilst considered unlikely, should any impacts on television reception be identified which can be attributed to the proposed wind farm, RWE NRL will install satellite television or upgrades of the current antennae systems as the most appropriate and effective form of mitigation. Ardchonnel Wind Farm Non-Technical Summary 12

14 Carbon Balance 95. A carbon balance assessment has been undertaken which demonstrates that the proposed wind farm will payback any carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emitted during construction and operation within 23.6 months of operation. Beyond this period, the wind farm will make a positive net contribution to CO 2 emissions savings. Therefore, the carbon offset by Ardchonnel Wind Farm will contribute positively to meeting Scotland s targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Summary 96. The EIA of Ardchonnel Wind Farm was carried out in accordance with regulatory requirements and guidance on good practice. 97. The overall aim of the design strategy was to create a wind farm with a cohesive design that relates to the surrounding landscape, whilst taking account of the environmental characteristics of the site. 98. The findings of the surveys undertaken as part of the EIA, in addition to extensive consultation, have informed the design process. As a result, a number of significant design changes were made to reduce potential impacts on environmental features. 99. Overall, the ES shows that, given the iterative design process, and with the committed good practice measures and proposed mitigation in place, most potential environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of Ardchonnel Wind Farm can be avoided or reduced. Therefore, in terms of the EIA Regulations, it is considered that the proposed wind farm will not have significant impacts on the environment, with the exception of a limited number of landscape and ecological impacts. In all cases, the predicted impacts of Ardchonnel Wind Farm are long-term (persisting for the life of the wind farm) but reversible, such that following decommissioning, these impacts will no longer be present Ardchonnel Wind Farm will represent an important environmental benefit in that it involves the generation of electricity from a renewable energy source that will reduce or avoid the use of fossil fuels. It will also make an important contribution to the increase in renewable energy capacity in Scotland and towards meeting renewable energy targets in the UK. Ardchonnel Wind Farm Non-Technical Summary 13