Land use in South West Scotland John Glen 16 th April 2014 Private and confidential 16 th April 2014
Basic structure of approach: WEDP Whole Estate Development Planning (WEDP) provides a platform for land managers to triangulate the 3 main factors influencing any land use decision. Private and confidential 2 16 th April 2014
What we know about the area East South Ayrshire Lanarkshire Wanlockhead Dumfries & Kirkconnel Galloway Sanquhar Private and confidential :Local Authority Boundary 3 16 th April 2014
What can we do with this land? Current Land Use Wanlockhead Kirkconnel Sanquhar Peat SPA Grouse Forestry Coal 4
Social Factors Community Kirkconnel Population 900 Ave wk. HH income £350 Priority: jobs Thornhill Population: 1000 Ave wk. HH income: £600 Priority: lifestyle and property value 5 Estate built assets
Environmental: habitat and peat Integrated wind and carbon storage Private and confidential 6 16 th April 2014
Environmental: bird species Muirkirk and North Lowther SPA 50 Designated as SPA [no data] 40 30 [no data] 20 10 [no data] 0 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Hen Harrier Short-eared owl Merlin Peregrine 7 3 SPA Total - 2011: 10 No Data Home Moor Total- 2014: 4 9 4 9 Private and confidential 7 16 th April 2014
The idea: an integrated land use Headline (Arial Bold 36pt) strategy at scale Private and confidential 8 16 th April 2014
What are the issues we are trying to solve Landowner issues economic return from land asset. Community issues (local and national) appropriate skilled local jobs restoration of open-cast coal mines . Local environmental issues SPA not working - evidence of bird species - peat emitting rather than absorbing carbon National environmental issues achieving renewable energy targets for Scotland. Private and confidential 9 16 th April 2014
Phased project Headline (Arial Bold 36pt) • Move part of SPA to Home Moor and propose and integrated environment plan - birds STEP 1 - peat restoration • Develop an integrated renewable proposal - wind STEP 2 - pump-storage hydro Tourism landscape • Structure the project and investment case STEP 3 Private and confidential Home 10 16 th April 2014 Moor
Structured economic return To provide a return for landowners. Provide a co-investment opportunity for operator and community / local authority. Develop an integrated solution for Powharnel. Private and confidential 11 16 th April 2014
Strategic Context for Promoting a New Benefits of large projects to meet national Large Onshore Wind Site in Scotland targets Potential for consideration as a “nationally significant Total installed renewables capacity in Scotland is 6.46GW. development” Equivalent of 40.3% of electricity from renewables (onshore wind -4.57GW, hydro -1.5GW and offshore wind 0.190GW). One large site negates the need for in the order of 20 other sites The 2020 target of 100% of electricity demand from renewables will require 14-16GW capacity to be deployed over the next 6 years (all types). Geographical concentration of effects • Consented projects in the system 4.6GW but delayed due to grid, aviation, funding etc. Greater number of turbines, height and maximum yield • A further 9.4GW is in the planning system with less “justifies” the locally significant effects 30% likely to be consented • 50% of the consented and new planning system SNH are generally supportive of concentrated windfarm capacity is offshore which means 3.7GW of offshore development and could support a nationally significant needs to be online by 2020 to make the 2020 target development within a spatial framework. (current estimate around 500MW will be operational) • Onshore wind capacity plus hydro needs to fill a 4.3GW gap. Private and confidential 12 16 th April 2014
Potential for Large Onshore Wind site on Project Grousemoor (Queensberry + Buccleuch Estate Leadhill Estates) Several options considered Excellent wind resource Key issue will be European SPA designation for Birds Planning system is challenging but achievable with on Muirkirk and Lowther Hills careful site design Prospects of linking with adjacent estates considered – Grid connections can be made available without lengthy to increase opportunity to achieve planning consent delays Need for coherent landscape design Support mechanism (CfD) Selection of right site and stakeholder management is the key to success Best Location – Queensberry Estate (Buccleuch) and Leadhill Estate (Hopetoun) Private and confidential 13 16 th April 2014
Project Grousemoor Windfarm Option 1: Buccleuch land (+SPA) + Spango/Corsebank + Hopetoun > 160 turbines – 480MW
Development process • Indicative development programme MONTH ACTIVITY Mar - Jun 2014 Commercial Discussions Apr – Aug 2014 Preliminary discussion with Scottish Govt, SNH, Councils etc. April 2014 Commence Year 1 Bird Monitoring Sept 2014 Commence Public Consultation Issue Scoping Report Apply for Grid Connection Dec 2014 Receive Scoping Opinion. Commence EIA Surveys Apr 2015 - Apr 2016 Year 2 Breeding Bird Monitoring Jun 2016 Submit S36 application to Scottish Govt Jun 2017 Consent received with no public inquiry. Jun 2018 Consent received with public inquiry Private and confidential 15 16 th April 2014
Summary of Project Grousemoor Potential for 160 turbines – 500MW site 500MW – is a significant contribution to the 2020 target Offshore wind deployment poor with many licences being returned to the Crown Estate. 3700MW is the target – might deploy 500MW Large scale benefits attractive to all statutory consultees but significant support required to deliver this project Consent via Electricity Act Grid Connection available 2018. Private and confidential 16 16 th April 2014
Economic benefits Community benefit in accordance with Scottish Government − £5000/MW − £2m to £2.5m per annum − £50m to £62.5m over 25 year Jobs − 3 to 4 years of construction activity supporting 300 local jobs − 25 years of operation supporting 20 to 25 local jobs Training / apprenticeships − construction training and experience − operational training and experience − part of community fund directed towards further education for young people in local villages. Private and confidential 17 16 th April 2014
Pump storage opportunity Potential for 100 to 130MW pump storage facility Storage facility would use existing mined areas and local infrastructure The development and consent approach would be integrated with the large windfarm proposal to create a significant energy park. Feasibility, programme and grid interaction are the next key steps. Private and confidential 18 16 th April 2014
Recommendations and next steps Commercial development agreement for onshore wind and pumped storage. Feasibility study − wind feasibility study work is 80% complete − pump storage feasibility work would be completed between now and June 2014. Start bird survey activity. High-level meetings with Scottish Government, SNH, RSPB, SEPA, Councils, etc. Public Relations and Public Affairs Strategy. Getting local communities and community organisations on-board will be a key aspect of the development process. Apply for the Grid Connection. 19
Where we are today Headline (Arial Bold 36pt) a) Five landowners agreed in principle b) Setting up a scoping and project management team c) Working with SNH and Scottish Government to build a case to move part of SPA d) Establishing peatland restoration project e) Dumfries and Galloway Council enthusiastically pursuing a co-investment proposal on smaller Glenmuckloch scheme. Private and confidential 20 16 th April 2014
What this could deliver Headline (Arial Bold 36pt) 1) 300 to 500 MW of wind energy 2) 80 to 130 MW of pump-storage hydro 3) Local jobs: appropriate skills 4) Approx. 1,000 acres of peatland restored 5) Successful promulgation of bird species 6) Options to restore Powharnel 7) Income from investment by local authorities and tax income. Private and confidential 21 16 th April 2014
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