White Lee Wind Farm Information Leaflet

8/9/2019 White Lee Wind Farm Information Leaflet

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Whitelee Windfarm

Information Leaflet


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Illustrations and Layout by Turnbull Jeffrey Partnership Ltd. : Visitors Centre Image by Building Design Partnership : Photomontage by Envision Ltd.


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Proposed Whitelee Windfarm development

ScottishPower has now submitted an application to build and

operate a windfarm at Whitelee Forest, south of Glasgow. This leaflet

provides information on some key points identified during the

environmental assessment process and which are reported fully in

the Environmental Statement. Details on where to view the

Environmental Statement and how to obtain copies of the Non

Technical Summary or further information are provided at the end

of this leaflet.

Over the past 6 months we have consulted with over 75

organisations and groups, including 25 local community councils,

and spoken with some 300 local people at a series of exhibitions.

During this consultation the design of the windfarm has evolved inresponse to comments received, allowing it to be fully optimised

taking into account all environmental, technical and local criteria.

ScottishPower is committed to ensuring windfarm development at

Whitelee Forest is sensitively designed with regard to local

communities and the environment. We have sought not just to

minimise any effects, but also to enhance the local environment

through improved wildlife habitats and access for public recreation.

The Environmental Statement

A comprehensive Environmental Statement accompanies the

application. It reports the findings of the thorough environmental

assessment process that has evaluated all potential environmental

effects of windfarm development at this site. It includes details of

design features and practical measures to minimise any adverse

effects or disturbance, and addresses issues raised during

consultation. It also confirms the substantial environmental benefits

that the project will bring.

The Environmental Statement addresses the following topics:

landscape and visual amenity

ecology archaeology and cultural heritage

noise

forestry

local employment

land use and ownership

tourism and amenity

aircraft

telecommunications and television

transport and traffic

air and climate

hydrology, soils and geology


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Renewable energy and wind power

Renewable energy sources are natural energy sources such as

sunlight, wind, waves and tides, which are continuously replenished

and will never run out. Of these renewables, windpower is the

most economical and technically advanced. It offers global benefits

in terms of electricity generation that is free from emissions of

carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas associated with global

climate change) and other pollutants. It also provides diversity and

therefore security in UK energy supplies by reducing dependency

on imported fossil fuels such as coal.

Scotland now generates around 11 per cent of its electricity from

renewable sources, and the Scottish Executive has set a target of

increasing this to 18 per cent by the year 2010. This will requireapproximately 500 new wind turbines in Scotland balanced

between a few large and a number of smaller windfarms. This

target, and windfarm development on this scale, are essential

elements in the governments strategy for tackling global climate

change and meeting its international obligations to reduce carbon

dioxide emissions.

Whitelee Forest site selection and design

Whitelee Forest was selected following an exhaustive process to

identify promising large and small windfarm sites in Scotland. It

emerged as a site with excellent potential for a large windfarm.

The 140 turbines proposed would generate enough electricity to

supply 150,000 homes - about one third of Scotlands renewables

target alone. This would cut annual emissions of carbon dioxide by

around 540,000 tonnes.

The site is large and open, and ideally located close to the Central

Belt in an area with good grid connections and markets for

electricity. Development Plans for the area identify it as being

suitable for windfarm development, and with no especially sensitive

ecology or landscape features.

Although a large windfarm, the turbines and infrastructure only

take up around 2 per cent of the overall development area - and

once operational the land can continue to be used right up to the

turbine bases.


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Site Location and Access Points


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Construction

Construction will begin immediately following consent for the

windfarm and be phased over two years, with phase one operational

and generating electricity by the end of the first year. The length of

the construction period, even for such a large windfarm, is much

less than for conventional power station construction projects.

Activities are not continuous and are largely restricted to the site

itself. Decommissioning and removal of the turbines at the end of

their useful life, about 25 years, is similarly straightforward and the

land can be fully re-instated to its previous condition.

During the two-year construction phase around 300 jobs will be

createdand some 12 million in construction contracts will beavailable.

Traffic management

The main impacts occurring during construction result from short-

term, temporary, increased traffic movements. These can be

addressed effectively by a traffic management plan. The plan forthe proposed Whitelee Windfarm development will include

Photomontage of proposed Wind Turbines


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restricting access for construction traffic to the western end of the

site near Lochgoin via the A77/M77 road, thus completely avoiding

Eaglesham village. In addition, HGV traffic on the main road network

will be significantly reduced by sourcing stone for road construction

from sensitively located on-site borrow pits.

A second access to the site will be provided at the eastern Ardochrig

end to allow delivery of materials for the substation and the eastern-

most turbines only. Again, this access route will completely avoidEaglesham village.

Landscape and visual

Visibility is perhaps the most obvious effect of an operating

windfarm. In response to consultation, the turbine layout has been

repeatedly revised and tested against computer generated images

to minimise visibility from local viewpoints and residences. The

proposed layout represents the optimum in terms of visibility, energy

recovery and technical and environmental constraints.


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Wildlife and ecology

Experience from existing windfarms has shown that wildlife can

co-exist very well with wind turbines, and that windfarms provide

an opportunity to improve local habitats and ecology. At Whitelee

Forest we are working closely with landowners, including West of

Scotland Water and Forest Enterprise, to restore eight square

kilometers of forestry to moorland, to restructure the remaining

forest, and to provide more diverse and attractive habitats for local

wildlife.

Recreational improvements

We have taken into account the views of local people and

incorporated plans for improved access via a new network of

footpaths, cycleways and bridleways. These are being designed to

maximise recreational opportunities while simultaneously

respecting the privacy of nearby residents. The plans also include a

visitor centre providing information and displays on renewable

energy and sustainable development.

Artists impression of Visitor Centre


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Recreation/Access Network


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Windfarm operation and communities

ScottishPower has eleven windfarms operating successfully in

diverse areas throughout the UK and Ireland. Windfarm

development is a long-term commitment and we play an integral

part in the communities in which we operate. The company has

set up community or sponsorship funds at all of these windfarm

sites. These benefit local communities by supporting projects of an

environmental, educational or charitable nature. A similar fund will

be established for communities here.

Public opinion

Public attitudes to windfarms consistently show the majority of

people favour wind energy. Recent Scottish Executive research

found that most residents living close to windfarms do not

experience any problems, and that problems anticipated before

construction did not materialise.

Responses to a survey carried out this summer during the public

exhibitions around the proposed Whitelee Windfarm mirror thesefindings. Around 65 per cent of visitors who filled in a questionnaire

were in favour of this site for a windfarm. Only 11 per cent were

against, and the remainder were undecided.

Some 150 people have accepted our invitation to visit an operational

windfarm and to see and hear it for themselves. It is hoped this will

allay any apprehensions people may have. Visits will be organised

within the next few weeks. Please contact us if you missed the

exhibitions and would like to take part in these visits.


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Planning application and next steps

The planning application and Environmental Statement have been

submitted to the Scottish Executive by CRE Energy (a wholly owned

subsidiary of ScottishPower responsible for windfarm development).

The application will now be considered by the Executive and local

authorities, together with representations from local people and

other consultees before a decision is made.

Local opinion is important and you are invited to submit yourcomments in writing to the Scottish Executive. You should also

copy any correspondence to your local authority. To assist you,

contact details are provided on the back page of this leaflet.

ScottishPower will be holding further exhibitions in the local area

and details will be made available once these are confirmed. In the

meantime, the full Environmental Statement and a Non Technical

Summary are available for you to view at council offices andlocations as follows:

East Renfrewshire Council, Eastwood Park,

Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock

South Lanarkshire Council, Civic Centre, East

Kilbride

East Ayrshire Council , 6 Croft Street ,

Kilmarnock Kilmarnock, Dick Institute Library, Elmbank

Avenue

Newmilns, Newmilns Library, Craigview Road

Newton Mearns, Mearns Community Library,

McKinley Place Eaglesham, Eaglesham Community Library,

Montgomery Hall

Darvel, Darvel Post Office, 15 East Main Street

East Kilbride, East Kilbride Central Library,

Olympia Shopping Mall Strathaven, Strathaven Library, Glasgow Road

If you have any further questions about the

proposals, or wish a copy of the Non Technical

Summary, please contact:

Debbie Harper

ScottishPower

Strategic Transactions

Cathcart Business Park

Spean Street

Glasgow, G44 4BE

Tel 0141 568 4418/4419

Fax 0141 568 4499

email [email protected]


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Proposed Whitelee Windfarm development

Contact details for responses to planning application

Please address any correspondence on the proposals to the Scottish

Executive and copy it to your local planning authority at the

addresses below. ScottishPower also welcomes the opportunity to

respond to any issues you may have and our address for

correspondence is repeated below for your information.

Scottish Executive

Energy Branch 1

Meridian Court

5 Cadogan StreetGlasgow

G2 6AT

East Renfrewshire Council

Planning and Development ServicesEastwood Park

Rouken Glen Road

Giffnock

East Renfrewshire

G46 6UG

South Lanarkshire Council

Enterprise Resources

Civic Centre

East Kilbride

G74 1AB

East Ayrshire Council

Department of Development Services

6 Croft Street

Kilmarnock

KA1 1JB

ScottishPower

Strategic Transactions

Cathcart Business Park

Spean Street

Glasgow

G44 4BE

Documents

White Lee Wind Farm Information Leaflet