The Client is in the process of obtaining planning permission to develop a 22 turbine wind farm on the south-western shore of Loch Shin in Sutherland, Highlands of Scotland. As major development, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was required to support the planning application. Lustre Consulting was appointed to work as part of a team on the Geology, Hydrology and Hydrogeology Environmental Statement (ES) section of the EIA. In the first instance, a Scoping Report was prepared to provide a summary of the proposed development and potential impacts.
Lustre Consulting prepared a Phase 1 Environmental Risk Assessment (Desk Study) to inform the Scoping Report. The Phase 1 comprised an assessment of the potential effects on geology, hydrology and hydrogeology informed by a site walkover and detailed review of the soil and geology maps, nearby borehole records and provision of a preliminary peat slide assessment.
Following submission and approval of the Scoping Report, Lustre Consulting worked on the preparation of the Geology, Hydrology and Hydrogeology ES which comprised a summary of the environmental baseline conditions, a detailed potential impact assessment and recommended mitigation and monitoring measures. As part of the ES, Lustre Consulting undertook a detailed Peat Slide Risk Assessment which included a site wide peat probe survey, targeted field assessments (at each turbine location) and collection of baseline water quality and gas monitoring data.
Soon after a public exhibition during the summer of 2011 and completion of the EIA, the Client applied for planning permission which is currently going through consultation.
How we can protect your construction site from unnecessary delays and costs. If piling is part of your construction plans, a piling risk assessment could be a vital step to avoid potential problems that could disrupt your project, including: Piling risk assessments are now explicitly referenced within the Environment Agency’s Land Contamination Risk Management Guidance […]
How we can protect...
A surface water soakaway is used to capture then allow the infiltration and filtration of water runoff through a subsoil to the water table below. Your soakaway should provide sufficient short-term storage of surface water and allow the surface water to percolate into the surrounding ground. The National House-Building Council (NHBC) provides detailed guidance on […]
A surface water...
Working on a construction project can come with a long ‘to do’ list. Not only that, but you have to deal with the stress of navigating planning conditions as well as numerous building regulations. Acoustic issues don’t have to further complicate this process. Could an Acoustic Assessment be a requirement for your site? Of all […]
Working on a...
Contamination is not always something that can be seen; often contamination is invisible, buried below ground or is present in perfectly normal looking topsoil.
This is a question...
