LUC was commissioned by Statkraft UK to provide a range of environmental services to inform the planning application for the proposed An Càrr Dubh wind farm in Argyll and Bute in Scotland. The proposed site will have 13 180m turbines located between Inverary and Dalavich.

If consented, An Càrr Dubh wind farm will provide renewable energy to over 95,000 homes per annum and deliver a community benefit fund dedicated to funding schemes that make a difference to local communities. The project is also proposing ambitious and holistic habitat restoration and enhancement proposals, including measures to benefit biodiversity (including water vole, pine marten, red squirrel, and several bird species), peat, forestry and landscape.

LUC’s multidisciplinary teams carried out a full Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed wind farm. Our landscape and visual (LVIA), planning, heritage, assessment and ecology teams contributed to the supporting documents, which assessed the effects of construction and operation, and cumulative effects. The assessment covered the impact of the proposed scheme on the surrounding landscape and views, geology, hydrology, hydrogeology and peat, ecology, ornithology, cultural heritage, noise and vibration, traffic and transport, aviation, and climate change. Our specialists worked with peat, hydrology and forestry specialists to guide the client on the full interaction of possible impacts and mitigation.