Supporting Documentation - Renfrewshire Council

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Wind turbines can affect birds in four ways: 1. Collision 2. Displacement (due to disturbance) 3. Barrier 4. Habitat Loss The RSPB produced a Bird Sensitivity Map which aids the location of onshore wind turbine development in Scotland. This map is based on bird species of conservation concern and Special Protection Areas (SPA) and indicates where wind turbines are more likely to conflict with bird sensitivities. The proposed wind turbine site of Hartfield Farm appears to fall within an area of low sensitivity, which means that it is unlikely to be classed as sensitive to bird species. Further investigation as outlined below was deemed necessary to confirm this. BirdTrack, through a partnership between the BTO, the RSPB, Birdwatch Ireland and the Scottish Ornithologists' Club, is a system that looks at migration movements and distributions of birds throughout Britain and Ireland. BirdTrack provides facilities for observers to store and manage their own personal records as well as using these to support species conservation at local, regional, national and international scales. Area wide surveys identify which species can be present, demonstrate diversity and determine how sensitive an area might be to development. Information which pinpoints the specific or exact location of breeding rare birds is often protected. On checking the database for the NS45 10km tetrad, where regional data appropriate to the site can be identified, it indicated that during the current determination period there is a regional species diversity with a percentage (90%) of potentially present species recorded in the winter and at breeding times. On checking the database for grid reference NS45 10km tetrad, there is the possibility of a number of different species being found in the greater area based on previous studies and recordings made between 2007 and 2011 during which a total of 89 different species were identified. Common garden, grassland and water birds have been identified across this area. Protected and rare species identified in the greater area where Black Throated Diver, Brambling, Common Scooter, Hen Harrier, Jack Snipe, Smew, and Whooper Swan. On checking the database for grid reference NS4258 two species were identified in 2011, Brambling and Raven. The SNH search tool for locating protected species also provides information regarding bird species found in the surrounding area. A total of 66 different bird species were identified in the broader area from the Clyde Breeding Bird Tetrad Atlas 1985-1991 and Bird Conservation Targeting Project (BCTP) in the UK, 2005-2010 Sensitive Species winter sightings in the UK. These included Long-eared Owl, Short- eared Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Willow Ptarmigan and Skylark. Large survey areas of 10km wide tetrads would be expected to support a variety of different birds. The surveys indicate a relatively large diversity and therefor,e it is likely that the area may be deemed to be of medium sensitivity to bird species. However it is unlikely to be of high concern to important rare species. The RSPB website in 2011 states that ‘Switching to renewable energy now, rather than in ten or twenty years time, is essential if we are to stabilise levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at safe levels. Wind power is the most advanced renewable technology available at a large scale during this time period. For this reason, the RSPB supports a significant growth in offshore and onshore wind power generation in the UK.’ Waterman Group, Renewable Energy, 2/4 Canning Street Lane, Edinburgh, EH3 8ER T:0131 221 7020 9 K:\Projects\CIV12920_ILI Windfarms_Batch 7\CIV12920_XXX_Hartfield Farm\Documents\Reports\CIV12920_1202xx_Hartfield_Supporting Turbine Assessment_225kW.docx
To meet renewables targets, the RSPB has also stated ‘it favours a broad mix of renewables, including solar, wind, and marine power, wherever they are used in ways that minimise unnecessary damage to wildlife and the natural environment.’ The RSPB ‘particularly support solutions that enable individuals and communities to generate their own power close their homes and businesses.’ This single turbine proposal is compatible with these aims and the choice of proposed turbine location respects bird sensitivities. Extracts from the RSPB website http://www.rspb.org.uk/ (August – September 2011) 2.3 Local Plan Policy 2.3.1 Renfrewshire Local Plan POLICY Ren 1: Criteria for Assessing Proposals for Development of Renewable Energy Sources The Council is supportive of an increase in the proportion of electricity produced from renewable sources, but will require proposals for development of renewable energy sources to meet the following criteria:- (a) there is no unacceptable impact on the amenity of nearby residents, in terms of statutory air quality objectives, noise or other nuisances; (b) visual intrusion within the landscape in terms of scale, location, design, etc. has been minimised; (c) during the process leading to the selection of the proposed site, consideration was also given to alternative sites, and the selection of the proposed site can be justified; (d) the cumulative impact of the proposed development along with any other existing and approved similar developments will not lead to an unacceptable impact on the environment and amenity; (e) arrangements are in place to ensure restoration of the site to an acceptable Section 12 Renewable Energy of the Renfrewshire Local Plan, Wider Environmental Framework, notes in 12.6 that ‘In seeking to accommodate renewable energy development, it is essential to ensure that this is not achieved at the expense of unacceptable damage to the environment and amenity. In addition, all of Renfrewshire is covered by the Glasgow Airport consultation zone for wind power. All proposals for wind turbines will therefore be considered under POLICY AIRPORT 4. POLICY AIRPORT 4: Airport Safeguarding Areas The Council will refer planning applications located within designated airport safeguarding areas, as identified on safeguarding plans which are reviewed on occasion by the Civil Aviation Authority or appropriate body, to the appropriate authority and will refuse consent where airport or aircraft safety is considered to be compromised. The Council will similarly refer development proposals which are considered likely to be in conflict with the operation of the airport’s aerial approach and departure routes. Response to Local Plan Policy POLICY Ren 1: The application for the proposed turbine includes information in response to Policy REN 1 in regard to the impact on amenity, visual intrusion, site selection, cumulative impact, impact on the environment and restoration. These are included within Section 3 Technical Appraisal. Waterman Group, Renewable Energy, 2/4 Canning Street Lane, Edinburgh, EH3 8ER T:0131 221 7020 10 K:\Projects\CIV12920_ILI Windfarms_Batch 7\CIV12920_XXX_Hartfield Farm\Documents\Reports\CIV12920_1202xx_Hartfield_Supporting Turbine Assessment_225kW.docx
Page 1: Wind Turbine Application Supporting
Page 5 and 6: Disclaimer This report is for the p
Page 7 and 8: 3.14 Wind Resource Assessment .....
Page 9 and 10: 1.3 The Applicant Intelligent Land
Page 11 and 12: 2.2 Designation Review/Ecology 2.2.
Page 13 and 14: Otters SPECIES LOCATION EUROPEAN OT
Page 15: As the proposed turbine is located
Page 19 and 20: 3. Technical Assessment 3.1 Site To
Page 21 and 22: 3.5 Archaeology An examination of t
Page 23 and 24: 3.6 Visibility Visual analysis of t
Page 25 and 26: 3.8 Vibration The Dunlaw study was
Page 27 and 28: 3.10.2 Access Access to the turbine
Page 29 and 30: Self assessment maps show that the
Page 31 and 32: Table 4: Operational Wind Farms NAM
Page 33 and 34: Figure 6: Turbine Location OS Map D
Page 35 and 36: Under certain conditions, ice may f
Page 37 and 38: 5. Summary This site has been consi
Page 39 and 40: A. Site Location Plans Waterman, Re
Page 41 and 42: C. Local Environmental Constraints
Page 43 and 44: E. Proposed Transport Route Waterma
Page 45 and 46: G. Viewpoints & Visualisation Water
Page 47 and 48: Photomontage of Predicted View (ind
Page 49 and 50: Hartfield Turbine Viewpoint B Exist
Page 51 and 52: Wireframe Waterman, Renewable Energ
Page 53 and 54: Photomontage of Predicted View (ind
Page 55 and 56: Hartfield Turbine Panoramic View Vi
Page 57 and 58: H. Hub and Blade Tip - Zone of Theo
Page 59 and 60: Sightline from Glasgow PSR Height A
Page 61: Waterman, Renewable Energy, 2/4 Can

Supporting Documentation - Renfrewshire Council

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