Supporting Documentation - Renfrewshire Council

The proposed development is for a single turbine which has a tip height of 45.9m and is of reduced size
and capacity in comparison to turbines currently installed within wind farms which may have tip heights of
100m-120m. It consequently has reduced visual impact. The effect of visual impact is discussed within
Section 3.6 and turbine visualisations have been prepared and are contained within the Appendices.
Noise levels are described within Section 3.7 as is the effect of shadow flicker in Section 3.9. Associated
separation distances are graphically displayed in the Appendices.
The proposed development is sympathetic to its environment and there will be no significant,
unacceptable adverse impact, or adverse cumulative impact from the development. Its size and capacity
are suited for community wind energy projects and farm diversification. Farming can continue at the
proposed site and the proposal is compatible with encouraging diversification among the farming
community in rural Renfrewshire.
POLICY ENV 3: Local Designations: Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs)
The Council will protect and where possible enhance SINCs, and, where appropriate, promote links
between SINCs which will act as wildlife corridors. However, the Council recognises that some of the
identified SINCs coincide with sites which are regarded as being suitable for development through Local
Plan policies and where there is a presumption in favour of development. Development proposals for
sites covered by the SINC designation will be assessed, therefore, against the following criteria.
(a) The social and economic benefits of the development proposal.
(b) Any adverse impact on the nature conservation interest of the site being acceptable to the Council.
(c) The provision of satisfactory compensatory nature conservation benefits. The above would also apply
to SINCs identified and approved in the future by the Council.
Response to ENV 3
Land to the North of Hartfield Farm and Caplaw Dam contain areas identified as SINCs. The proposed
turbine location will be microsited to be outside such designated areas. The proposed turbine will be
microsited in response to the need to protect the habitat within the SINC. The access road will not cross
the SINC.
The proposed development is sympathetic to its environment and there will be no significant,
unacceptable adverse impact, or adverse cumulative impact from the development. Its size and capacity
are suited for community wind energy projects and farm diversification. Farming can continue at the
proposed site and the proposal is compatible with encouraging diversification among the farming
community in rural East Renfrewshire, in accordance with the East Renfrewshire Rural Development
Strategy 2008 - 2013.
POLICY GB1: Green Belt
The Council will protect the Glasgow & the Clyde Valley Green Belt within Renfrewshire as defined on the
Proposals Map. Acceptable forms of development in the Green Belt will be limited to those falling into the
categories 1 to 13.
Category 13, Renewable Energy Developments, will be subject to provisions of POLICY Ren1.
Waterman Group, Renewable Energy, 2/4 Canning Street Lane, Edinburgh, EH3 8ER T:0131 221 7020
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Farm\Documents\Reports\CIV12920_1202xx_Hartfield_Supporting Turbine Assessment_225kW.docx