Consent was granted by Scottish Ministers in December 2017 for Whitelaw Brae Wind Farm (WF) consisting of 14 turbines with a generating capacity of up to 50.4MW. The development requires a connection to the existing electricity network.
SP Energy Networks (SPEN) operates and maintains the transmission network on behalf of SP Transmission plc (SPT), the transmission licence holder for the area.
As a transmission licence holder, SPT is obligated under Section 9 of The Electricity Act 1989 to:
- Develop and maintain an efficient, co-ordinated and economical system of electricity transmission.
- Facilitate competition in the generation and supply of electricity.
SPT is obliged to provide a connection to the existing network for the wind farm. To connect the development, SPEN is proposing to construct new twin 33kV overhead lines on double ‘H’ poles from the Whitelaw Brae Wind Farm substation to the existing grid substation at Clyde Wind Farm South, in South Lanarkshire. The route is c.16.6km in length.
The preferred route option for the connection can be viewed below
The project is currently at the routeing stage and, as such, SPEN has prepared a Routeing and Consultation Document (RCD) for the connection which includes a strategic review of environmental, technical and economic considerations and the application of established routeing principles to identify the ‘preferred route’ for the proposed overhead lines.
We are now seeking feedback on the preferred route and the route selection process which has been undertaken to date.
The Routeing and Consultation Document can be downloaded below:
Hard Copies of the RCD will be made available at the following locations:
Dumfries and Galloway Council
FAO Robert Duncan
Economy,
Environment & Infrastructure,
Kirkbank House,
English Street,
Dumfries,
DG1 2HS | Scottish Borders Council
Development Management,
Council Headquarters,
Newton St. Boswells,
Melrose,
TD6 0SA | South Lanarkshire Council
Planning and Building Standards Headquarters,
Montrose House,
154 Montrose Crescent,
Hamilton,
ML3 6LB |
Tweedsmuir Village Hall
Tweedsmuir,
Biggar,
ML12 6QN To request access please contact Gavin Parker on parkerpolmood@gmail.com or 01899880370 | Crawford Village Hall
100 Carlisle Road,
Crawford,
ML12 6TW | Moffat Library
12A High Street,
Moffat,
G10 9HF |
The eventual route proposed for the connection will take into account views expressed during this consultation stage and we encourage feedback from the public.
EIA Screening
SPEN sought a Screening Opinion under Regulation 8 of the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment)(Scotland) Regulations 2017 from the Scottish Government Energy Consent Unit.
Screening is the process whereby the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is ascertained.
SPEN produced the Screening Report below in support of its stance that the proposed development does NOT constitute EIA development.
In October 2020, the Scottish Government issued their Screening Opinion which agreed that the proposed development does NOT require an EIA.
Work is now ongoing to refine the final alignment for the grid connection.
Despite the confirmation that an EIA is not required, SPEN still intends to undertake an environmental appraisal of the proposed development. A report of the environmental appraisal will accompany the application for Section 37 consent to the Scottish Ministers.
Should you wish to make comments or have any questions, please contact us via email at:
whitelawbraeproject@spenergynetworks.co.uk
or by writing to:
Whitelaw Brae Project Manager,
Land and Planning,
SP Energy Networks,
55 Fullarton Drive,
Cambuslang,
Glasgow
G32 8FA
Please note that comments made at this stage are NOT representations to the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit.