Planning & Environment Impact Assessment Process
A comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposal has been undertaken. The results are presented in the Environmental Statement which accompanies the planning application to The Highland Council. Supplementary Environmental Information has been presented in May 2010.
Planning Policy
The Nigg wind farm proposal is being developed within The Highland Council’s development plan framework to ensure compliance with planning policy. The relevant policies are contained in the following documents:
- The Highland Structure Plan 2001
- Ross and Cromarty East Local Plan 2007
- The Highland Renewable Energy Strategy 2006
The planning documents set out a general approach against which to assess all wind farm applications. The renewable energy strategy provides a general, high level guide for developers. The key will be to be able to demonstrate that the proposals for the wind farm at Nigg are not “significantly detrimental”. The bulk of Nigg Hill comprises a “preferred area” for “local scale onshore wind farm developments based upon individual turbines and small clusters for meeting regional/local embedded energy demand”.
Environmental Impact Assessment
The project is subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process which assesses any impacts (positive or negative) that the development may have on the natural and built environment.
Atmos Consulting Ltd has been appointed to oversee the EIA process and manage the planning application. Atmos Consulting is a renewable energy consultancy specialising in wind farm developments.
Details of the surveys undertaken and the results of the surveys are presented in the Environmental Statement (ES). Where necessary, mitigation measures are proposed.
The issues assessed in the ES are:
- Visual and landscape
- Noise
- Ecology and birds
- Archaeology and cultural heritage
- Hydrology
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- Traffic
- Socio-economics
- Tourism and recreation
- Telecommunications
- Aircraft safety and radar
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Current design
The initial design was for a much larger 15 turbine development. The current design is the result of an iterative site design process whereby the known constraints and the results of the environmental assessments are fed into the design process in order to achieve a layout which minimises the impact of the development; a process termed ‘embedded mitigation’.
- Particular care has been spent minimising the visual impact whilst maximising energy generation.
Landscape and visual
The impact of the wind farm on the landscape and general character of the local area together with visual impacts from key viewpoints will be important considerations for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
A list of viewpoints has been identified in consultation with the Highland Council and Scottish Natural Heritage. The view of the wind farm from these viewpoints is presented in the ES and the affects on these views assessed. Cumulative visual assessments with other wind farms in the area is also be considered.
Photomontages are photographs superimposed with images of the proposed wind farm. These are realistic impressions of how the wind farm will look. Visualisations from locations agreed with the Highland Council and SNH are presented in the Environmental Statement. Further visualisations to aid the assessment of impact on the cultural heritage resource are also presented.
The SEI document contains a stand alone volume with a new set of visualisations, prepared at the request of the Highland Council and Community Councils. The assessment of effects presented in the 2008 ES has not altered and remains the opinion of the consultants who prepared the LVIA and the applicants. The downloads section of this site allows download of all the SEI visuals in their original A3 format and in images prepared for this website at smaller file size.
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