Planning Application

RES has submitted a planning application for Bloch Wind Farm, located on land adjacent to the existing Solwaybank Wind Farm, near Langholm in Dumfries and Galloway.

Electronic copies of the planning application and accompanying documents can be viewed or downloaded by clicking on the links below.

Public Notice

Planning Statement:

• Bloch Wind Farm - Planning Statement
• Figure 1 - Site Location - Planning Statement
• Figure 2 - Proposed Development - Planning Statement

Pre-application Consultation Report

• Pre-application Consultation Report with Appendices A to D
• Pre-application Consultation Report Appendices E to G

Volume 1 - Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) Main Text:

• Chapter 1 Introduction
• Chapter 2 Proposed Development Description
• Chapter 3 Design Evolution and Alternatives
• Chapter 4 Approach to EIA
• Chapter 5 Landscape and Visual Impact
• Chapter 6 Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
• Chapter 7 Ecology
• Chapter 8 Ornithology
• Chapter 9 Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Geology and Soils
• Chapter 10 Traffic & Transport
• Chapter 11 Noise & Vibration
• Chapter 12 Socio Economic, Tourism and Recreation
• Chapter 13 Aviation, Radar and Other Issues
• Chapter 14 Schedule of Mitigation

Volume 2a - EIAR Figures:

• Figure 1.1 – Site Location
• Figure 1.2 – Site Boundary
• Figure 1.3 – Proposed Development
• Figure 2.1a - Indicative Wind Turbine Elevation - 230 m Tip Height
• Figure 2.1b - Indicative Wind Turbine Elevation - 200 m Tip Height
• Figure 2.1c - Indicative Wind Turbine Elevation - 180 m Tip Height
• Figure 2.2a - Typical Wind Turbine Gravity Foundation
• Figure 2.2b - Typical Wind Turbine Piled Foundation
• Figure 2.3 - Typical Crane Hardstand
• Figure 2.4 - Typical Access Track
• Figure 2.5 - Indicative Site Entrance Layout
• Figure 2.6 - Indicative AIL Access Route Upgrades
• Figure 2.7a-d - Typical Track Cross Drainage Details
• Figure 2.8 - Typical Water Crossing
• Figure 2.9a - Indicative Substation Compound Layout
• Figure 2.9b - Indicative Substation Compound Elevations
• Figure 2.10 - Typical Telecommunications Mast
• Figure 2.11a - Indicative Battery Energy Storage System Compound Layout
• Figure 2.11b - Indicative Battery Energy Storage System Compound Elevations
• Figure 2.12 - Typical Cable Trench
• Figure 2.13 - Typical Temporary Construction Compound
• Figure 2.14 - Indicative Borrow Pit General Arrangement
• Figure 2.15 - Typical Batching Plant Layout
• Figure 3.1 – Turbine Layout Evolution
• Figure 3.2 – Combined Constraints and Infrastructure Layout
• Figure 6.1 – Gazetteer Assets
• Figure 6.2 – Heritage Designations and ZTV
• Figure 6.3 – Heritage Viewpoints and ZTV
• Figure 6.4 – VP1 Callisterhall, farmstead 400m NNE of SM4520 Wireline
• Figure 6.5 – VP2 Scots’ Dyke Wireline
• Figure 6.6 – VP3 Kirtlehead Wireline
• Figure 6.7 – VP4 Doe’s Hill Wireline
• Figure 6.8 – VP5 Calfield Wireline
• Figure 6.9 – VP6 Gibb’s Hill Wireline
• Figure 6.10 – VP7 Old Irvine Wireline
• Figure 6.11 – VP8 Callisterhall, cairn 1100m NE of SM4519 Wireline
• Figure 6.12 – VP9 Broomholm Wireline
• Figure 6.13 – VP10 Callisterhall, cairn 2,550m NNE of SM4535 Wireline
• Figure 6.14 – VP11 Bloch Farm Visualisation
• Figure 7.1 – International Designated Nature Conservation Sites Within 20km
• Figure 7.2 – National Designated Nature Conservation Sites Within 5km
• Figure 7.3 – Phase 1 Habitat Map
• Figure 7.4 – NVC Habitat Map
• Figure 7.5 – Bat Survey Locations and Roost Potential
• Figure 7.6 – Fisheries Survey: Sampling Site Sensitivity
• Figure 8.1 – Ornithological Survey Areas and Viewsheds
• Figure 8.2 – Key Breeding Bird Locations, 2021 and 2022
• Figure 8.3 – Pink-Footed Goose Flight Lines
• Figure 8.4 – Other Key Waterfowl Flight Lines
• Figure 8.5 – Hen Harrier Flight Lines
• Figure 8.6 – Goshawk Flight Lines
• Figure 8.7 – Red Kite Flight Lines
• Figure 8.8 – Peregrine Flight Lines
• Figure 8.9 – Merlin Flight Lines
• Figure 8.10 – Curlew Flight Lines
• Figure 8.11 – Lapwing Flight Lines
• Figure 8.12 – Golden Plover and Dunlin Flight Lines
• Figure 8.13 – Herring Gull Flight Lines
• Figure 9.1 – Hydrological Overview
• Figure 9.2 – Flow Accumulation
• Figure 9.3 – Topographic Wetness
• Figure 9.4 – Predominant Soils
• Figure 9.5 – Carbon and Peatland Soils
• Figure 9.6 – Peat Depth Interpolation
• Figure 9.7 – Peat Slide Risk
• Figure 9.8a – Potential GWDTE Dependency
• Figure 9.8b – Actual GWDTE Dependency
• Figure 9.9 – Bedrock Geology
• Figure 9.10 – Superficial Geology
• Figure 9.11 – Slope Angle Map
• Figure 9.12 – Artificial and Natural Drainage Networks
• Figure 10.1 – Study Area
• Figure 10.2 – Traffic Survey Locations
• Figure 10.3 – Accident Locations
• Figure 10.4 – AIL and Construction Vehicle Delivery Routes
• Figure 11.1 – Predicted Noise Footprint
• Figure 11.2 – Cumulative Noise Footprint
• Figure 13.1 – Shadow Flicker Assessment 

Volume 2b - Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) Figures and Visualisations:

• Figure 5.1 – Site Location
• Figure 5.2 – Landscape Policy Context
• Figure 5.3 – Landscape Character
• Figure 5.4 – Topography
• Figure 5.5 – ZTV out to 45km – Woodland and Settlements
• Figure 5.6 – ZTV out to 45km – Bare Ground
• Figure 5.7 – ZTV out to 35km – Woodland and Settlements
• Figure 5.8 – Cumulative Developments within 35km
• Figure 5.9 – ZTV Cumulative – Operational and Consented
• Figure 5.10 – ZTV Cumulative – Schemes in Planning including Woodland and Settlements
• Figure 5.11 – Local Landscape Character and Existing Light Pollution
• Figure 5.12 – ZTV Study – 32 Candela Tower Light Visibility
• Figure 5.13 – ZTV Study – 2000 Candela Nacelle Light Visibility
• Figure 5.14 – Viewpoint 1 – High Stenries
• Figure 5.15 – Viewpoint 2 – Minor Road near Barnglieshead
• Figure 5.16 – Viewpoint 3 – Collin Burn
• Figure 5.17 – Viewpoint 4 – Milltown
• Figure 5.18 – Viewpoint 5 – Calfield
• Figure 5.19 – Viewpoint 6 – B6318 north-west of Claygate
• Figure 5.20 – Viewpoint 7 – Langholm Bridge
• Figure 5.21 – Viewpoint 8 – Malcolm Monument, Langholm
• Figure 5.22 – Viewpoint 9 – Longtown
• Figure 5.23 – Viewpoint 10 – Burnswark Hill Fort
• Figure 5.24 – Viewpoint 11 – A7 near Unthank
• Figure 5.25 – Viewpoint 12 – Bowness-on-Solway
• Figure 5.26 – Viewpoint 13 – Caerlaverock Castle  
• Figure 5.27 – Viewpoint 14 – Banks, Hadrian’s Wall
• Figure 5.28 – Viewpoint 15 – Kirkpatrick Fleming
• Figure 5.29 – Viewpoint 16 – Gretna Green / Springfield
• Figure 5.30 – Viewpoint 17 – Repentance Tower, Hoddom

Volume 3 - Technical Appendices

• Table of Contents
• Technical Appendix 2.1 Outline Construction Environmental Management Plan
• Technical Appendix 2.2 - Outline Borrow Pit Management Plan
• Technical Appendix 2.3 – Outline Pollution Prevention Plan
• Technical Appendix 5.1 – LVIA Methodology
• Technical Appendix 5.2 – LVIA Viewpoint Assessment
• Technical Appendix 5.3 – Residential Visual Amenity Assessment
• Technical Appendix 6.1 – Site Gazetteer
• Technical Appendix 6.2 – Cultural Heritage Screening
• Technical Appendix 7.1 – Phase 1 and NVC Habitat Surveys
• Technical Appendix 7.2 – Bat Surveys
• Technical Appendix 7.4 – Fisheries Electrofishing Survey
• Technical Appendix 7.5 – Protected Species Protection Plan
• Technical Appendix 7.6 – Outline Habitat Management Plan
• Technical Appendix 8.1 – Breeding Bird Report 2021
• Technical Appendix 8.2 – Breeding Bird Report 2022
• Technical Appendix 8.3 – Wintering Bird Report 2020-21
• Technical Appendix 8.4 – Wintering Bird Report 2021-22
• Technical Appendix 8.5 – Collision Risk Report
• Technical Appendix 8.6 – Breeding Bird Protection Plan
• Technical Appendix 8.7 – HRA Report
• Technical Appendix 9.1 – Schedule of Watercourse Crossings
• Technical Appendix 9.2 – Peat Management Plan
• Technical Appendix 9.3 – Peat Slide Risk Assessment
• Technical Appendix 9.4 – Private Water Supply Risk Assessment
• Technical Appendix 9.5 – GWDTE Assessment
• Technical Appendix 9.6 – Watercourses Assessment
• Technical Appendix 9.7 – Climate and Carbon Balance Assessment
• Technical Appendix 10.1 – Transport Assessment
• Technical Appendix 10.2 – Route Survey
• Technical Appendix 11.1 – Assessment of Energy Storage Facility
• Technical Appendix 11.2 – Issues Scoped Out of Wind Farm Noise Assessment
• Technical Appendix 11.3 – Calculating Standardised Wind Speed
• Technical Appendix 11.4 – Propagation Height Valley Effect
• Technical Appendix 11.5 - Background Noise Survey Photos
• Technical Appendix 11.6 – Instrumentation Records
• Technical Appendix 11.7 – Charts
• Technical Appendix 11.8 – Suggested Planning Condition Noise
• Technical Appendix 12.1 – Socioeconomic Strategic Context
• Technical Appendix 13.1 – Reduced Lighting Scheme

Volume 4 - Non-Technical Summary

Reasons to Support Bloch Wind Farm

Low-cost electricity

Onshore wind, together with large scale solar, is the cheapest form of electricity generation. It is also a mature technology which can be deployed quickly and delivered at lower costs than offshore wind, hydro, marine technologies, and nuclear.

If consented, the Bloch Wind Farm scheme will generate enough clean renewable low-cost electricity for approximately 100,000 homes. With the rising cost of living and current energy crisis, it is imperative that we deliver electricity efficiently and at lowest cost to the consumer.

Energy Security

Wind energy is a free and inexhaustible resource which has an important role to play as part of a balanced energy mix. It increases energy security by reducing our reliance on imports and is not subject to sudden price fluctuations or the uncertainty of global markets.

Tackling climate change

In 2019 a climate emergency was declared by the UK Government and the Scottish Government in recognition of the serious impacts around the globe caused by climate change.

The UK Government has set a legally binding target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 and the Scottish Government has a net zero target of 2045. Renewables, and specifically onshore wind, will play an important role in helping achieve these targets.

With the ever-growing threat of climate change and the catastrophic impacts that it could have it is critical that we transition to a zero-carbon future, and in light of the recent COP26 event in Glasgow there has never been a greater need for projects like Bloch to help achieve net zero targets and support a green recovery.

Socio-economic benefits

Bloch Wind Farm is predicted to deliver around £5.8 million of inward investment in the form of jobs, employment and the use of local services in addition to around £1 million in business rates each year to fund vital local services within the community.

Commenting on the Proposal

The planning application and associated documents are available to view, and comments on the proposal can be made, on the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit’s website at www.energyconsents.scot and by searching for application reference number ECU00003463.