Proposed Moorhouse Farmers Windfarm - Renfrewshire Council

4. Describe the development that is to be carried out and state whether it will be a national or a major
application:
LOCATION - The project would be based on land owned by a consortium of five farmers in the
Moorhouse area, to the west of Eaglesham and some eight kilometres (km) south west of Glasgow,
between the M77 and the B764 (NGR NS 527 507) . The proposed site is set on the gentle hills
between the M77 to the west, A726 to the north and B764 to the south east. On the western
boundary of the site lies Eastwood Golf Course with Bonnyton Golf Course situated on the eastern
boundary. The village of Eaglesham is situated approximately 2km to the east of the site with the
southern edges of Newton Mearns lying to the north of the site.
THE PROPOSED SITE - The study area itself includes various scattered residential properties
(approximately five houses). There is a small area of woodland to the north east of the site, Long
Wood. Various access tracks, which tend to connect properties to fields and reservoirs, exist
throughout the site. The site is drained by a series of small burns which drain into Lochcraig
Reservoir and Bennan Loch which are located centrally on the site and are used as public water
supply reservoirs.
THE PROPOSALS - The anticipated potential capacity of the windfarm is estimated to be 40 Mega
Watts (MW) with between 16 and 20, two to three MW turbines with a maximum tip height of 125m.
This is classed within the major application category as defined in the (draft) Town and Country
Planning (Hierarchy of Developments) (Scotland) Regulations 2009. The turbines would be of a
typical modern design incorporating tubular towers and three blades attached to a nacelle housing
the generator, gearbox and other operating equipment. The transformer for each turbine would be
housed either adjacent to the tower base or within the tower itself. This would depend on the chosen
turbine manufacturer’s specification. The average wind speed on the site is high and it is therefore
expected that Class 1 turbines would be required such as the Nordex 2.5MW N90.
The key components of the proposals are: some 16-20 wind turbines; three anemometer masts; a
permanent access route into the site from the B764; access tracks and underground cabling within
the site; an electrical sub-station; a site office and store (may be the same building); and associated
communications and other infrastructure.
FURTHER DETAIL - For more detailed information on the proposals please refer to our Scoping
Report which was submitted to East Renfrewshire Council Planning Department in October
2008.
5. Has the Council adopted a screening opinion; or have the Scottish made a screening direction (under
the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999) regarding the need for an
Environmental Impact Assessment in respect of the development?
Screening opinion: No Yes , if ‘yes’ give date of opinion:
Screening direction No Yes , if ‘yes’ give date of direction:
If yes to either of the above, please provide full details: The project team submitted a Scoping Report
to East Renfrewshire Council Planning Department in October 2008. A scoping direction from East
Renfrewshire Council Planning Department on November 21st 2008 was received providing guidance
on key subject areas that the EIA should address.
N:\PROJECTS\185_Moorhouse Windfarm\Consultation\Statutory PAC Consultation\Pre-application Notice\Proposal of Application Notice for
Moorhouse Farmers Windfarm_26.06.09.doc