Coriolis Energy and ESB Wind Development commissioned LUC’s impact assessment team to produce an Environmental Impact Assessment report for the Glendye Wind Farm in Aberdeenshire.

Our input included the landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA) work, (including providing expert witness evidence at appeal), and the ecological impact assessment work for the 26-turbine development.

Glendye Wind Farm achieved planning consent following determination at appeal in 2023.

The wind farm will contribute to renewable energy targets for Scotland, provide local employment, and establish a community benefit fund.

LUC’s Ecological Impact Assessment and the Planning Conditions agreed through the consenting process will help ensure potential effects on important species, such as water voles, are minimised.

LUC’s specialist EIA team coordinated the assessment, collaborating with our in-house landscape planners, ecologists, visualisation, and GIS specialists.

LUC also led the design of the wind farm, which was critical in achieving consent.

Our report presented and interpreted the findings of desk-based and field studies, following best practice methods in assessing the potential effects on ecological features.

We assessed these effects during both the construction and operation phases of the development. We also considered potential cumulative effects with other developments at the application, consented or operational stage.

This work helped inform further ecological work undertaken as part of the appeal process, the Planning Conditions that were agreed, and ultimately the recommendation by the Reporter and of Scottish Ministers, to consent the project.

LUC acted as Landscape and Visual Expert Witness at the Public Inquiry before consent was granted.

Sam Oxley, our Board Director for Landscape, Planning & Management, was the Expert Witness acting on behalf of the developer.