dceco - non technical summary (1)

7/30/2019 DCEco - Non Technical Summary (1)

1/10

Dunbar Community Wind Turbine Non Technical Summary Page 1

Su m m a ry o f Pro p o sed D u n b a r Co m m u n i t y W i n d Tu rb i n e

Proposed tu r b ine l oca t i on shown as b lack t r i ang le

This document provides a non-technical summary of acommunity owned wind turbine development at CocklawHill, approximately 7km south east of Dunbar.

The available wind resource on top of the hill provides agreat opportunity to provide a sustainable level ofincome to the local area. It is estimated thatapproximately 4 million will be raised over the first 20years of the development. Funds will be made availablefor projects within Ward 7 of East Lothian.

A supporting Environmental Statement has beenprepared and will be submitted alongside the planningapplication to East Lothian Council. This provides adetailed description of the proposed development andassesses the potential impacts associated with theconstruction and operation of the proposed development.Where adverse impacts have been identified, mitigationmeasures are outlined. Appendices to the planningapplication will also include detailed layout maps, plansand visualisations in the form of photomontages and

zones of theoretical visibility.


2/10


Proposed Deve lopment

Spec i f ica t ion

RRB 47

Rated capacity 500 kW

Status New

Proposed tower height 32.8 m

Rotor diameter 47 m

Distance ground to blade tip 56.3 m

Maximum rotational speed 15 - 31 rpmEstimated operational life 25 years

The proposed development consists of single wind turbine of a maximum height from the base to the blade tips of56m. The turbine choice has been carefully considered to ensure that it fits well with existing development and does not negatively impact on

the landscape quality of the area.

The turbine would be located adjacent to the existing TV mast on Cocklaw hill and will include the following components:

Founda t ions The turbine foundations will be a rectangular structure and will be completely underground with the top being backfilledwith the existing hardstanding for this car parking area.

Trans fo rmer bu i l d ing - It is proposed that the required turbine transformer, switchgear and protection equipment is either locatedwithin the base of the tower (preferred option) or alternatively in a small building located next to the base of the tower.

View of proposed wind turbine from Thurston Manor


3/10


4/10


Landscape & V isua l I m pact Assessm ent

A detailed landscape and visual impact assessment was undertaken by an experienced independent chartered landscape architect. This work

included the preparation of several photomontages and wireframes to demonstrate how the turbine would look from key viewpoints.

The turbine is located within the Eastern Lammermuir Fringe, which is described as a complex rolling landform of small hills and narrow valleys.

Care has been taken through the design of the development to ensure that the turbine fits well into the current view of the wider area.

The turbine is located so that it reflects the existing development pattern of the TV mast on Cocklaw Hill. Particular attention has also been given

to visually sensitive areas such as Oldhamstocks Conservation Area, the scale of turbine chosen means that the turbine would not be visible from

within the conservation area.

Although the Landscape Capacity Guidance states that there would be no scope for development at this site, it is considered that this applies to

the wider area and does not consider site specific elements. The Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment concluded that the overall integrity

and setting of key public views are not significantly affected and the character, appearance and setting of sensitive landscape areas will not be

significantly impacted.

V ie w o f t u r b i n e f r o m M o n y n u t Ed g e


5/10


No ise I m pact Assessm en t

A desk based noise assessment was undertaken to demonstrate the

potential impact of turbine noise levels at residential properties. The

nearest dwelling is located approximately 1.2km to the north west of

the turbine location at Thurston Mains.

The noise assessment was carried out assuming worst case

conditions and carried out in accordance with industry standard

guidance (ETSU) and noise data provided by the turbine

manufacturer.

ETSU guidance states that further noise monitoring will be required if

a desk based study shows noise levels to be over 35dB at an

individual property. As is shown in the figure to the right, the

properties at Thurston Mains will be well outside the 35dB limit.

It was concluded that site specific noise monitoring would not be

necessary and no other residential properties would be affected by

turbine noise.

Expec ted no ise l eve ls f rom the w ind tu rb ine


6/10


Shadow Fl i cke r I m pact Assessm en t

At certain periods of the year, the sun may be positioned in

the sky behind the swept area of the turbine blades causing

shadow flicker.

As stated in national planning guidance, where separation is

provided between wind turbines and nearby dwellings up to10 rotor diameters, shadow flicker should not be a problem

at the site

As is shown in the adjacent map, there are no residential

dwellings within 10 rotor diameters (470m) of the proposed

turbine location.

10 ro to r d iamate r sepera t i on d i s tance f rom t u rb ine


7/10


Eco log ical I m pact Assessm ent

An ecological assessment was completed by experienced independent ecological consultants BSG Ltd. The following has been concluded from their

assessment:

Hab i ta ts: The field within which the turbine will be located will be improved grassland. The construction of the wind turbine will result in the loss

of a small area of improved grassland habitat that is considered to be of minimal ecological interest.

Designated Si tes: Lammermuir Deans Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is the only statutory designated wildlife site located within 2km

of the proposed development site. The SSSI is located more than 1km to the south-west of the wind turbine location. The SSSI is designated for

the habitats contained within several steep valleys. No direct or indirect impacts are predicted on the SSSI during the construction phase because

of the separation distance between the sites.

Protected Species:

Badgers: No signs of badger presence was detected during the site survey. Habitats within the vicinity of the wind turbine location are

considered to be poor for badger setts. Bats: The nearest potential bat roost features to the wind turbine location are associated with some mature oak trees located

approximately 790m to the south east. This is sufficiently distant that impacts arising from the proposed development are considered

highly unlikely.

Ot te r : During the survey of the man-made pond to the south-east of the proposed wind turbine location, an old otter spraint was foundnear the eastern end. It is very unlikely that otters would move north from the pond towards the wind turbine location.

Win te r ing B i rds : The turbine site lies approximately 10km to the south-east of the Firth of Forth SPA,SSSI and Ramsar site which isdesignated for its population of wintering pink-footed geese. The results of the walkover survey found no evidence to indicate that geese

have been feeding within the fields adjacent to the turbine location.Breed ing B i rds : No bird species were recorded in the vicinity of the proposed wind turbine location i.e. within 50m. The improved grassland

pasture field within which the proposed wind turbine will be located is considered to provide poor habitat for breeding birds. The fields around the

proposed turbine location are not bordered by hedgerows or species-rich field margins and habitat connectivity is poor.


8/10


Socioeconomics

The development of a community owned wind turbine at Cocklaw Hill will provide a positive contribution to the local economy. The revenue raised

from the sale of renewable electricity will provide the district of East Linton and Dunbar with a sustainable source of income. This will be used tofund local projects that help to create and secure local jobs and ultimately improve the socioeconomic profile of the region. It is estimated that 4

million of useable funds will be available over the first 20 years of the turbine operation.

The construction and operation of the turbine will also contribute to the local economy through the payment of rent, rates, local supply contracts

during construction and turbine maintenance contracts.

The Socioeconomic assessment detailed within the Environmental Statement has concluded that there would be no negative effects on local

business, households or tourism within the area. The scale and location of the turbine has been designed in order to have no negative environmental

or economic impacts on local residences, local businesses, scenic views, cultural heritage sites and conservation areas within the region.

Te lecom m un ica t i ons

The presence of a wind turbine has the potential to interfere with mobile phone and television signals.

Consultation was carried out with link operators within the region and the proposed turbine does not affect telecommunications within the area and

the turbine was found to be an acceptable distance from the nearest telecommunications links.

The desk based television assessment shows that loss of local television reception is unlikely to occur. Any minimal expected level of impact which

might occur will be mitigated at the expense of the developer.


9/10


Av ia t i on

Due to the height of the proposed wind turbine, there is the potential that it could interfere with flight safety, ground based RADAR systems and

aircraft navigation systems. Aviation bodies will generally only comment on a development once a full application has been submitted, a desk basedassessment has been carried out in this instance.

Civ i l i an a i rpo r t s The turbine will be outwith the safeguarding zone at Edinburgh Airport. A desk based assessment has also concluded that the

development will not interfere with RADAR at the airport.

MO D The site is within a low priority low flying zone for MOD. The development is also outwith Radar coverage from RAF Leuchars in Fife

NATS En-Route Ltd (NERL) - NERL are responsible for the RADAR systems that cover the movement of aircraft to and from the airport and

aerodromes within the UK. They have publicly available assessment maps that demonstrate where turbines of differing heights would be visible to

their RADAR Stations across the UK. From a review of this information, the Dunbar turbine will not be visible to RADAR.

Cul t u r a l Her i t age

The setting of historic sites such as listed buildings and scheduled ancient monuments are sensitive to any physical or visual impacts from wind

turbines. An assessment was carried out to determine the effect the wind turbines would have on cultural heritage sites within 5 km of the proposed

site.

For the majority of the sites the primary consideration is whether the turbine will have a significant impact on the setting of the sites through

increased visual impact.

The effect on these sites was not considered to be significant, mainly due to the existing TV mast at Cocklaw Hill.


10/10


Conclus ions

Based on the positive impacts of the development, and the low level of negative impacts (as mitigated, where required), it is considered that the

proposed site is a suitable location for a wind turbine development at the scale proposed. A summary of the main potential impacts and theirsignificance is given below.

Deve lopmentPo ten t ia l

I m p a c t

S ign i f i cance o f Im pac t

f o l l ow i n g m i t i g a t i onComment

Construction

Phase

Traffic Low Short-term impact on local road users.

Noise LowShort-term impact. Best practice construction activities will be employed and work hourslimited to avoid impacts on local amenity.

Visual Low NegligibleShort-term impact will include that of two cranes and excavations for turbine baseconstruction.

Socio-Economics

High (positive) The construction phase will provide employment for local trades people, labourers, andspecialised contractors. This will have a direct, short-term, positive impact on the local

economy.

OperationalPhase

Landscape &Visual

Low

The overall impact on the landscape and specific visual receptors is not considered to be

significant. This has been shown through a detailed LVIA and through photomontages from

key viewpoints.

Soils &Hydrology

Low

The scale of development and the specific site conditions are such that the potential impact

is considered to be negligible assuming the construction and operational stages follow bestpractice guidance.

Shadow Flicker Negligible A desk based study has demonstrated that shadow flicker will not occur at nearby properties

Noise NegligibleA desk based study has demonstrated that adverse noise impacts will not occur at nearby

properties.

Ecology LowAn ecological assessment has shown that the habitat quality at the site is poor and there isunlikely to be an adverse impact on protected bird and mammal species.

Socio-

EconomicsHigh (positive)

The community ownership of the project means that the surrounding area will receive a

strong financial benefit from the turbine.

dceco - non technical summary (1)

Documents