Project Background
Ardrossan Wind Farm comprises 15 wind turbines located within an upland setting to the north of Ardrossan in North Ayrshire, Scotland. It is operated by Nadara, with planning consent awarded in 2002 for 12 wind turbines, with an extension comprising an additional three wind turbines consented in 2005.
The original 2002 consent was due to expire in 2031, necessitating dismantling of turbines; however the operator is seeking a Section 42 variation to extend the operational period of the existing wind farm. The environmental commitments that were made as part of the 2002 and 2005 planning applications also required review.
Scope of services
RSK Wilding worked alongside Biocensus, who carried out a walkover survey in order to update the ecological information available for the site, to support the S42 variation. Thier part of the work considered ecological impacts on habitats along with protected species and ornithology.
Wilding reviewed the environmental commitments that were made as part of the original planning applications and followed up with providing enhancement advice. We did this by:
- We engaged with the wind farm operator and associated landowners who manage the site (primarily as grazing pasture for sheep and cattle) to discuss potential options for enhancing the site for biodiversity.
- We then completed habitat and botanical monitoring surveys within the site, and outlined a series of cost-effective and appropriate biodiversity enhancements and management prescriptions within a Habitat Enhancement Plan, which the client and the landowners were happy to implement on site.
Impact
Our survey work and professional judgement have enabled us to inform the client that the wind farm life extension would be unlikely to introduce any new ecological effects on site, and our Habitat Enhancement Plan has reviewed and addressed original environmental commitments.