Coriolis Glen Dye Windfarm Development
Scoping Report Response extracts:
.SNH (Scottish Natural Heritage) :
Mountaineering Council of Scotland:
CNPA consider that the proposal may raise issues on its own, and also cumulatively in respect of:
b. Restrictions the development would impose upon LARS/ZONE traffic patterns
c. Restrictions the development would impose upon special tasks conducted by the Unit
d. The position of the development in relation to controlled airspace
e. The complexity of the ATC task
f. The workload of controller
Aberdeenshire Council:
Ecology and Ornithology
Historic Scotland:
SM 4968 Cairn o'Mount, cairns
SM 6940 Mile Cairn, 860m NNE of Ardoch
SM 4961 Fettercairn House, burial mound 450m SW of
SM 4633 Dalbog, house, fields and cairns 1km N of
Edzell Castle Inventory GDL
There may be other heritage assets that have also been omitted. We would therefore recommend reviewing the list.
Angus Council:
https://www.energyconsents.scot/ApplicationDetails.aspx
Scoping Report Response extracts:
.SNH (Scottish Natural Heritage) :
- Regional Distinctiveness The proposed development is located on the upland moorland plateau landscape of the Mounth. In its own right we consider the Mounth to have a recognisable landscape character which contributes to the regional distinctiveness of this area of Aberdeenshire. In our view the introduction of 40 wind turbines up to 150metres to blade tip height could result in significant adverse impacts on the regional distinctiveness of the area and we may object to this proposal.
- Ornithology The proposed development could have a significant adverse impact on the conservation status on a number of schedule 1 raptors, including golden eagle, and other species of Page 2 of 15 conservation concern. Should this be the case we may object to this proposal.
- Landscape and Visual Impacts
Mountaineering Council of Scotland:
- Cumulative impact will be a consideration. Development until now has been either east of the Cairn o’ Mount road in a lower, more subdued and forested landscape, or in low agricultural hills fringing Strathmore. The proposed development would represent a major move of development westward and the impact of this extension to the area characterised by scattered wind farms must be fully assessed.
CNPA consider that the proposal may raise issues on its own, and also cumulatively in respect of:
- Adverse effects upon the landscape character and setting of the Cairngorms National Park (CNP) • Adverse landscape and visual impacts experienced from within the CNP • Adverse landscape and visual impacts experienced from within the CNP along a number of popular waling routes • Adverse landscape and visual impacts on upland areas in the eastern part of the National Park • Effects from cumulative impacts with other developments • The potential for adverse effects on the Lochnagar-Mount Keen Wild Land Area
- The diverse range of raptors recorded during the programme of vantage point surveys to date is probably unprecedented for a Scottish windfarm proposal. The species include some sensitive birds and some very rare species (which we assume have been submitted to the relevant ornithological bodies for assessment).
- The area is used by hunting golden eagles, many of which originate from the Cairngorm Massif SPA (c.10km away). http://www.raptortrack.org/golden-eagle/. There is an historical nest site within 10km, although this has not been regularly occupied by breeding birds for years, but a pair has recently established some 6km from the boundary.
- There is a suite of other upland bird species present on the site.
- The application area includes significant areas of blanket bog that support the species above and offer potentially substantial carbon storage. The impacts of the development on this habitat and carbon storage should be evaluated critically.
- The proposed development has been examined from an aerodrome safeguarding perspective and could conflict with safeguarding criteria. Accordingly, a more detailed assessment requires to be undertaken regarding the potential impact on Aberdeen Airport.
- The proposed site is located partially within the wind farm consultation zone for Aberdeen Airport and as such aviation impacts should be considered as part of the EIA.
- Some of the proposed turbines may be detected by Aberdeen Airport’s primary surveillance radar and generate clutter on air traffic control displays.
- There is currently no mitigation available at this site. In the event the turbines are predicted to be visible to our radar a safeguarding objection may be raised.
- An operational assessment of this proposal has been conducted by an ATC subject Matter Expert (SME) who considered the position of the turbines weighed against a number of operational factors. Close examination of the proposal has indicated that the proposed turbines would have a significant and detrimental effect on operations and on the provision of air traffic services at RAF Leuchars. MOD therefore objects to the development at Glendye Windfarm The reasons for this objection include, but are not limited to:
b. Restrictions the development would impose upon LARS/ZONE traffic patterns
c. Restrictions the development would impose upon special tasks conducted by the Unit
d. The position of the development in relation to controlled airspace
e. The complexity of the ATC task
f. The workload of controller
Aberdeenshire Council:
Ecology and Ornithology
- With regards the necessary interests for ecology and ornithology, one omission noted is that SNH requested additional pearl mussel surveys in relation to the River Dee Special Area of Conservation (Water of Dye) and this does not appear to have been picked up in the list of Protected Species (7.4) requiring further survey.
- It is noted that from the NESBReC species data the Council has available, impact on ground nesting birds would appear to be one of the biggest concerns at this site in addition to disruption of peat habitat and DWGTE.
Historic Scotland:
- Key Issues Based on the information provided in the scoping report, we consider that the proposal in its current form could have a significant adverse impact on the setting of category A-listed Fasque House (HB No. 9503) and its associated Inventory garden and designed landscape
- We have reviewed the list of sensitive heritage assets identified within table 4 in chapter 8: Archaeology and Cultural Heritage of the scoping report as falling within a 10km radius and requiring further assessment. It appears that there are a number of nationally important heritage that are missing from the list, such as:
SM 4968 Cairn o'Mount, cairns
SM 6940 Mile Cairn, 860m NNE of Ardoch
SM 4961 Fettercairn House, burial mound 450m SW of
SM 4633 Dalbog, house, fields and cairns 1km N of
Edzell Castle Inventory GDL
There may be other heritage assets that have also been omitted. We would therefore recommend reviewing the list.
Angus Council:
- In the scoping report (para 5.1) it is stated “… it is anticipated that the site would have very little visibility from the Cairngorms National Park…”. This assumption would need to be fully interrogated and either proven or discounted in the ES.
- The ES will need to explore the appropriateness of the proposal for its landscape character setting bearing in mind that the Angus Capacity Study, a sister document to the Aberdeen Capacity study finds that there is no capacity for wind farms above 125m+ height in LCT 3 Highland Summits & Plateau and 1b Mid Highland Glens both of which are immediately adjacent and contiguous to Aberdeen Capacity Study landscape Character types -Moorland Plateau.
https://www.energyconsents.scot/ApplicationDetails.aspx