Wind farm developer slashes turbine numbers following public consultation

According to Low Carbon, among the benefits of the changes are:

•  a reduction in the visibility of the development when seen from Ardishaig, Lochgilphead and Inverneill;
• an increase in the distance between the turbines and homes, with the number of properties within 2km (1.2miles) dropping from 479 to nine;
• a reduction in the number of trees which will need to be felled and ground disturbance;
• around half the tracks needed will be upgraded existing forestry tracks;
• there will be less civil infrastructure in areas of deep peat;
• and the removal of all properties from the shadow flicker study area – 1,550m from a turbine.

Low Carbon has also confirmed that a battery energy storage system (BESS) will not feature as part of the Section 36 application.

Angus Thomson, project development manager at Low Carbon, said: “The feedback we received from the community and statutory consultees has been at the core of our design decision making process.

“We have worked closely with our multi-discipline Environmental Impact Assessment team to refine the wind farm layout in order to address the specific concerns raised during the pre-application consultation process.

“Although we are now proposing fewer turbines, the project will still make an important contribution towards Scotland’s renewable energy and climate change targets, while also delivering a significant community benefit fund to be invested in the local area.”

Low Carbon says it has also made good progress with communities regarding community benefit funding and shared ownership opportunities.

This work is being supported by Local Energy Scotland, which is engaging with community groups that have expressed an interest in a shared community investment in High Brenfield wind farm.

Low Carbon has also partnered with Foundation Scotland to support the community consultation process regarding how the project’s community benefit fund should be structured, managed and distributed.

Members of the public who are interested in learning about and collaborating on community benefit funding opportunities are being encouraged to attend public workshops being held in Ardrishaig, Lochgilphead and Inverneill from February 11-13 2025.

More information about the workshops can be found here

Further updated information and figures related to the project can be viewed here www.highbrenfieldwindfarm.co.uk