Cumberhead West Wind Farm
Public Information Website
Introduction
Welcome to the Cumberhead West Wind Farm public information website. Your comments are an integral part of our development process, and we actively encourage your engagement.
Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions requiring social distancing, face-to-face consultation is unfortunately not possible at present. In lieu of holding in person public information events, we have developed this online consultation website to provide details of the proposed scheme and the progress to date, and to answer any questions you may have. This form of community consultation has been agreed with the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit and South Lanarkshire Council as being an appropriate alternative to a public event in the current circumstances.
Project Summary
Cumberhead West Wind Farm Ltd (hereafter referred to as “the Applicant”) is a joint venture between 3R Energy and ScottishPower Renewables. The Applicant intends to apply to the Scottish Ministers for permission to construct and operate Cumberhead West Wind Farm (hereafter referred to as the “Proposed Development”).
The Proposed Development site adjoins an established cluster of wind farms around Hagshaw Hill (known as the ‘Hagshaw Cluster’) in rural South Lanarkshire – see Hagshaw Cluster information board below. The site is located approximately 3.9 km to the west of Coalburn, 5.6 km to the south-west of Lesmahagow, and 7.7 km west north-west of Douglas (distances to the nearest proposed wind turbine) – see location plan below.
Download a high resolution version of the map here
The site comprises a main development area of approximately 932 hectares (ha) of the existing Cumberhead Forest, consisting of commercial coniferous plantation and existing forestry tracks. The site boundary also includes the site access track (from junction 11 of the M74 motorway along existing and proposed tracks to the southern corner of the site) which is approximately 16 km long, as well as an existing access road leading to Station Road at Douglas West which together comprise an area of 134 ha.
The Proposed Development will consist of approximately 22 wind turbines up to 200 m blade tip height, each with a generating capacity of approximately 6 megawatts (MW) – the same size as the turbines approved for the repowering of the nearby Hagshaw Hill Wind Farm. Associated infrastructure will include site access, access tracks, crane hardstanding, underground cabling, on-site substation and maintenance building, energy storage compound, temporary construction compound(s), laydown areas, concrete batching plant, potential excavations/borrow workings and a met mast(s).
The Applicant intends to submit an application for the Proposed Development to the Scottish Ministers via the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit (ECU) under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. The application will be supported by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA Report) as required by the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 (as amended) (the EIA Regulations).
Community Benefit
The Proposed Development has the potential to generate up to £660,000 each year, and up to £19.8m over its lifetime, to support local groups and projects in the communities closest to the site.
We are keen to hear your ideas on how the revenue from the project can be used to enhance the local area and deliver projects that provide lasting benefit. As the wind farm project progresses we will continue to engage with local communities, stakeholders and South Lanarkshire Council to determine how benefits could be delivered to best meet the needs and aspirations of the local area.
Renewable Energy Targets
The UK Government and the Scottish Government have both declared a ‘climate emergency’ and are committed to ensuring that an increased proportion of electricity is generated from renewable energy sources in order to meet carbon emission targets.
The Scottish Climate Change Bill (2018) introduces a target of net-zero gas emissions by 2045 at the latest, with Scotland becoming carbon neutral by 2040. Scotland will also have to reduce emissions by 56% by 2020, 70% by 2030 and 90% by 2040. These are currently the most ambitious statutory targets in the world. If consented, the Cumberhead West Wind Farm will make a meaningful contribution towards meeting these targets.
Project Information Boards
More detailed information about the project can be found by clicking on the information boards below:
To download a set of high resolution maps click here
Comments and Feedback
Comments can be made by completing the feedback form below or can be submitted separately in writing to 3R Energy using the postal address at the foot of this webpage, and the project team will respond to any questions you may have. Comments can be submitted until 16th September 2020.
The project team will also be available for virtual meetings / telephone calls on request for a 21 day period following the launch of this website, ending on 16th September 2020. To book a call with a member of the project team to discuss any comments or questions you may have, please contact the following email address: cumberheadwest@3renergy.co.uk
Any comments made at this stage are not representations to the Scottish Ministers. There will be further opportunity to make comments on the Proposed Development direct to the Scottish Ministers following submission of the application to the ECU later this year.
Any personal information we receive from you will be used by us to measure public opinion in relation to our proposal only. The information will be used by us in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and will not be sold, transferred or otherwise disclosed to any third party, unless such disclosure is required by law.