A858 / A857 Project
– located parallel to the western coast of Lewis, situated within the Lewis Peatlands SPA.
Barvas Road
Project
– located on
the A857 between
Stornoway and
Barvas, within the
Lewis Peatlands SPA
and bordering on the
SACs
Project Galson –
located south east of
Ness and bordering
the Lewis Peatlands SPA.
Arnish Moor - located near the B897 to the south west of Stornoway, adjacent to the existing turbines at this site location
Project Stornoway
– located to the west
of Stornoway and straddling north and
south of the A858
and bordering the Lewis Peatlands SPA
Summary of key findings of the sustainability appraisal
A858/A578 project May be difficult to progress due to potential negative
impacts on social and natural capital
Barvas Road Possible for some development but could be limited in
scale due to potential negative impacts on natural capital
Project Galson Potential for greater scale of development outside SPA
although would need to generate local buy-in
Project Stornoway Potential for greater scale of development outside SPA
expanding to the other side of the A858
Arnish Moor Potential for development although more constrained by
aviation issues - could develop as a testing site
Initially the report suggests that a total of 53 turbines could be built across three main areas but then it shifts its focus on cramming 50 machines into a single location between Stornoway and the boundary with north Lochs.
The report says: “Overall, the results of this initial appraisal indicate that Project Galson, Project Stornoway and Arnish Moor should be progressed as preferred options for further appraisal.
“Overall, it is our view that it would be possible to accommodate up to 53 turbines across these sites, without impacting on the integrity of the Natura 2000
designations and in line with wider sustainability criteria. This would provide up to 191 MW of installed capacity in North Lewis (based on a 3.6 MW turbine).
After realising that the local community in north Lewis are fiercely opposed to any attempt to recarnate the failed Amec scheme it then adds: “The sustainability appraisal and further feedback from stakeholders has underlined that the only feasible area for the deployment of wind turbines is on Stornoway Trust land.
But it warns “Achieving a scheme of 50 turbines or more on Stornoway Trust land is constrained by the need to ensure that any development does not impact on the integrity of the Natura 2000 site.
