Ladyfield Renewable Energy Park

Glen Aray, Inveraray, Scotland

Introduction

Ridge Clean Energy are developing a renewable energy park at Ladyfield Plantation, Scotland. This is a forestry site on the east side of Glen Aray, approximately 4.7km north of Inveraray at its closest point.

We will keep the public up to date on the progress of the proposal via this website, posting news on:

The Project
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report
Project Timeline
Public Consultation
Community Partnership

We have now submitted our Section 36 application to the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit (ECU). The submission documents are available for viewing on this website via the ‘Documents’ tab and on the ECU website. Two physical copies are also available at Inveraray Church and Dalmally Pharmacy. Please note that the consultation window closes on 3rd March 2024.

You can also contact the project team or take our survey on ideas for how Ladyfield Renewable Energy Park can support the local community.

View Site Boundary

Project Outline

Ladyfield was first identified as a potential wind farm site several years ago, and environmental surveys have been ongoing at the site since early 2020.

As part of the iterative design process, the number of turbines has now decreased to 13 (reduced from an original 22 for EIA Scoping), with a total capacity of 58.5MW.

The current proposals include for turbines up to a tip height of 180 metres, which has been reduced from the previously proposed 200 metres.

In addition, a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is planned, with a capacity of 41.4MW. The BESS will store excess power from the wind farm during times of high generation and low demand, and will also be able to operate independently, to support the National Grid.

Ancillary infrastructure will be required as part of the new wind farm, which will include a substation, turbine transformers, new and upgraded access tracks, two temporary construction compounds, crane hardstandings and a second permanent meteorological mast (in addition to the existing one).

The connection to the nearby SSEN Transmission Creag Dhubh substation will be subject to a separate consent application.

Environmental Surveys & S36 Application

Many specialist surveys have been undertaken at the site during the pre-submission development process, including but not limited to:

Two years of bird surveys;
Ecology surveys, including for vegetation, bats and protected species such as badger and otter;
Ground conditions surveys, such as peat probing;
Hydrology surveys;
Visual impact surveys;
Background noise surveys; and
Traffic surveys

Our proposals and designs for the site have been guided by data gathered during these surveys and by advice provided by independent environmental experts.

We have now submitted our Section 36 application to the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit (ECU).

Wind Generation

58.5MW

Battery Storage

41.4MW

Homes Powered

Equivalent amount of power as is used by ~45,000 homes each year

Project Timeline

Environmental Surveys - Q1 2020 to Q2 2022 The project team have been undertaking environmental surveys for the past 15 months, and these will continue until spring 2022. On Completion of the surveys, all information will be collated to inform the design of the wind farm.

Scoping - Q3 2021

To inform the ongoing Environmental Impact Assessment, Ridge Clean Energy submitted a Scoping Request to the Scottish Government in June 2021. The Scottish Government invited organisations such as NatureScot, Argyll and Bute Council and local community councils to feed into its Scoping Opinion, which was received in March 2022.

The Scoping Request and Scoping Opinion are available to be viewed on the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit page, under reference: ECU00003291.

Public Consultation - Q3 2021 to Q4 2022

In August 2021 we held our first public exhibition online due to COVID-19 restrictions. We have also held in-person public exhibitions in early February 2022 and October 2022.

The aim of these events is to keep the local community updated on the project, answering any questions and recording any feedback on the proposed renewable energy park.

Following submission of the planning application to the Scottish Government, the public will be able to provide formal representations to the Scottish Government directly.

Design Evolution and Environmental Assessment - Q4 2021 to Q4 2022

Since the Scoping Request, we have gathered more survey data and had initial feedback from the public on our proposals; consequently, we have undertaken an initial review of the wind farm layout prepared for Scoping and refined the design.

The design process is iterative, and we are seeking to develop a design which optimises the balance between the site performance and environmental effects. This process will continue to identify measures to eliminate, avoid, reduce or mitigate any potentially significant effects where possible.

The layout will continue to evolve based on constraints, responses from statutory consultees and feedback from this public consultation. Updates to the layout will evolve throughout 2023 and details will be made available on this website.

Preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report

Following completion of survey work, work is underway to prepare the Environmental Impact Assessment Report. This is a series of assessments of the potential environmental effects of a project, undertaken by specialist environmental and technical consultants. This will cover the following areas:

Landscape and Visual;
Ornithology;
Ecology;
Archaeology and Cultural Heritage;
Hydrology and Hydrogeology;
Geology and Peat;
Noise;
Traffic and Transport;
Forestry;
Socio-economics, Land Use and Tourism;
Shadow Flicker; and
Aviation

Submission of a Section 36 Application to Scottish Government - Q1 2024 Our Section 36 application to build and operate the development has now been submitted to the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit.

Consultation

Please note that the consultation window closed on 3rd March 2024. If you have any comments or questions on the project, please contact us via one of the channels on the ‘Contact Us’ tab.

Consultation Events

Prior to the submission of our Section 36 application, we held four public consultation events for the local community:

One online public exhibition in August 2021;
Two in-person public exhibitions in February 2022; and
One in-person event in October 2022.

Below are the banners that were on display during the public exhibitions in February 2022.

Community Partnerships

RCE invests time and energy during the development stage and before the planning application was submitted, to build a working relationship locally. Since 2020, RCE has been working with community leaders and groups in the town of Inveraray, near to the Ladyfield project.

Our team worked swiftly, helping Inspire Inveraray apply for funding from various sources, successfully raising funds of over £244,000 to enable the community to purchase the pier and carry out necessary restoration works to open it once again to the public. More information on the Inveraray Pier Project can be found here.

In addition, RCE provided funding to support the ‘Warm Spaces’ initiatives in Inveraray and Dalmally, enabled work at Nicoll Hall for Inveraray Senior Citizens, and supported the Breakfast Club at Inveraray Primary School.

Community Benefits

We are keen to identify other local initiatives for which our community expertise and seed capital may be useful. We want to support existing community projects and help new local ideas become reality, whilst supporting the community’s path to Net Zero.

Education is a key part of our community work, which is why we have launched The Ridge Climate Care Awards to encourage environmental awareness and action among the younger generation. The Awards are available to use in primary schools or with community groups. They can be completed as part of the school curriculum or run as a club activity. Please click here to download our free resources.

If you have any ideas for how Ladyfield REP can support your local community, please take our survey below, or contact us.

Our Experience

We have an experienced Community Partnership Team that work with local communities to create enduring local benefits.

Each project is assigned a Community Partnership Coordinator, who will forge relationships with key stakeholders in the area to identify and develop local initiatives and ideas that will support the community and its path to Net Zero.

Alongside our experience, we can also provide up-front seed capital and support with fundraising for local projects, allowing a community to benefit right from the beginning of the partnership.

Inveraray Community Celebrates Reopening of Historic Pier

After ten years of being closed to the public, the historic Inveraray Pier was finally re-opened to the public in April 2024, The official ribbon-cutting ceremony drew a large crowd, which saw the Mid Argyll Pipe Band perform, with journalists from local and national Scottish media coming along to cover the event.

Originally built in 1762, the Inveraray Pier was an important hub for the community’s fishing and boating needs but had fallen into disrepair, making it unsafe and therefore being closed to the public since 2014. The local community wanted this former asset to be restored and reopened once again, with the ambition to improve access to and from the loch, reconnect neighbouring communities, and re-establish fishing, diving, promenading, boat trips and other water sports facilities on the loch.

Inspire Inveraray together with the Inveraray Community Council and the local community have pooled resources to develop a fundraising plan and apply for funding to purchase the Pier so it could go back into community ownership, and with time, be restored to safety and open to the public.

With our support, Inspire Inveraray and its supporters worked together to raise over £244k, enabling the community to purchase the pier and carry out essential restoration works and eventually open the pier to the public once again in April 2024.

Since its reopening the pier has hosted a number of wonderful community events, such a Picnic on the Pier and a hugely successful Farmers Market, which will now become a monthly event.

Community Survey

Project Documents

Below is the list of application documents submitted to the Scottish Government ECU, click on a document to open it.

Please note that comments sent via the channels below do not constitute a formal representation to the Scottish Government ECU. Any formal representations need to be submitted via the ECU website.

Comments

Providing comments or requesting a call back from a member of the project team using the forms below.

Email

Email us a comment or enquiry via the following email address ladyfield@theridgegroup.com.

Post

Or write to: Ridge Clean Energy, Noah's Ark, Market Street, Charlbury, OX7 3PL.