A mine in Scotland has produced gold ore for the first time after a redesign assisted by LUC helped secure planning permission.

LUC prepared the Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment for the redesign of the Tailings Management Facility, including a gold mine in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. This work was crucial to the successful launch of the mine.

We carried out the Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment for Scotgold Resources who developed the mine. According to the BBC, they predict that several tonnes of gold will be extracted from Cononish mine.

LUC was brought on board to advise on concerns over the design, scale and visual impact of the mine’s tailings management facility, advising on mitigation and restoration. We also produced a landscape mitigation and management plan for the wider Glen Cononish, including proposing the extension of existing native Caledonian pine forest and improving habitats and access tracks.

Scotgold chief executive Richard Gray told the BBC: “It is extremely satisfying to be able to celebrate this significant milestone with some of our long-standing stakeholders. The achievement of gold production provides tangible evidence of our progress and we appreciate the support of all our stakeholders in getting to this point.”