Project Info

Name: Ben Sca Wind Farm
Price range: $

The Ben Sca wind farm is located approximately 2km south of Edinbane and 7km to the east of Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye. The map below shows the site (outlined in red) in the context of the surrounding area.

Ben Sca Wind Farm - November 2020 Consent

In November 2020, the 7 turbine Ben Sca wind farm was consented by The Highland Council. The wind farm comprised of seven wind turbines, each with a blade tip height of up to 135 metres.

Ben Sca Wind Farm Extension - April 2022 Consent

In April 2022, Ben Sca wind farm was extended to nine turbines with consent from The Highland Council. The project consisted of seven turbines at 135m tip height and a further two turbines at 149.9m tip height.

Ben Sca Redesign

In 2024, a Ben Sca Redesign proposal was put forward to The Highland Council for consideration. The project was looking to increase the tip height of the initial seven consented turbines to 149.9m in line with the extension turbines as well amend the layout to maximise potential energy output.

The rationale for the amendment to the consented wind farm is to:

maximise the renewable energy output from the site by increasing generation by approximately 20,000MWh to 145,000MWh which would provide enough carbon-free electricity to meet the needs of around 41,300 UK homes (an increase of approximately 5,700 UK homes on the consented scheme);

maximise the secured grid capacity contributing further to Scottish Government net-zero emission targets;

ensure that the candidate turbine can be sourced and installed; and

to reduce distance to the connection point to the national electricity grid network, following change dictated by Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks (connection point changed from Dunvegan Grid Supply Point (GSP) to Edinbane GSP).

As part of the preparation of a planning application, environmental assessment of the changes proposed at the Ben Sca and Extension Wind Farm site is currently in progress.

Public Exhibitions were held place in November 2023 (see 'Public Consultation' tab for more information).

A fly-through video of a 3D model was presented at the November 2023 Public Exhibitions to provide an indication of how the Ben Sca project would appear should the proposed amendments receive planning consent. There are a number of other wind farm projects currently being proposed in the wider area, which are at various stages of the planning process (either awaiting determination or currently at the scoping stage, pre-submission). The fly-through video includes these proposed developments to provide context of the potential wider cumulative development. This fly-through video can be viewed below.

In April 2024, the redesign planning application was submitted to The Highland Council.

In May 2025, we submitted further information to The Highland Council revising the wind farm plans. Within the information supplied to The Highland Council, the proposed Ben Sca Redesign Wind Farm proposes to retain the 149.9m turbine tip height but has reduced the overall scale of the project by one turbine following feedback and advice from NatureScot and THC. Consequently, Ben Sca Redesign has been reduced to eight turbines. You can view the revised plans by clicking on the below document links or through The Highland Council planning portal (reference 24/01404/FUL) - https://wam.highland.gov.uk/wa..

Vol 1 Ben Sca Redesign SEI NTS Final

Vol 2 BSR SEI Ch1 Introduction Final

V ol 2 BSR SEI Ch2 Policy Context Final

Vol 2 BSR SEI Ch3 Landscape Final

Vol 2 BSR SEI Ch4 Ornithology Final

Vol 2 BSR SEI Ch5 Ecology Final

Vol 2 BSR SEI Ch6 Hydrology Hydrogeol Soils Final

Vol 2 BSR SEI Ch7 Cultural Heritage Final

Vol 2 BSR SEI Ch8 Socio Ec and Land Use Final

Vol 2 BSR SEI Ch9 Other Considerations Final

Vol 2 BSR SEI Ch10 Schedule of Commitments Final

Vol 2 BSR SEI Ch11 Summary of Effects Final

Figures:

Vol 1 BSR SEI NTS Figure 2 Revised Site Layout

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 1 3 Environmental Designations

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 1 4 Onsite Constraints

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 1 6 Proposed Site Layout

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 1 7a Turbine Layout Changes

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 1 8a Site Access

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 1 19 Cumulative Developments within 10km Op and Con

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 1 20 Cumulative Developments within 10km Appln and Scop

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 3 6a Landscape Character and Visibility

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 3 6b Landscape Designations and Visibility

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 3 7 Routes Settlements and Visibility

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 3 8 Cumulative Sites within 15km

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 3 12 Cumulative ZTV

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 4 1 VP Locations and Viewsheds

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 4 2 Wader Raptor Survey Areas

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 4 3 1 Golden Eagle Flight Lines

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 4 3 2 White tailed Eagle Flight Lines

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 4 3 3 Other Target Species Flight Lines

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 4 4 Breeding Wader Results

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 5 1 Ecological Designations

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 5 2a d Phase 1 Habitat Data 2018

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 5 3 1 Habitat Management Areas

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 5 3a d NVC Data 2018

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 5 4 Peatland Condition

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 6 1 Local Hydrology

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 6 1 1 Peat Depth

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 6 1 2 Peat Depth over 0 5m

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 6 2 Soil Plan

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 6 3 Superficial Geology

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 6 4 Peatland Classification

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 6 5 Bedrock Geology

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 6 7 Groundwater Vulnerability

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 6 8 GWDTE

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 7 1 Gazetteer Assets

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 7 2 ZTV and Cultural Heritage Designations

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 7 3 Dun Arkaig Comparative Wirelines Half A1

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 7 4 Barpannan Cairns Comparative Wirelines Half A1

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 8 1 Zone of Theoretical Visibility

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 8 1 1 Proposed Paths

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 8 2 Community Council Areas

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 8 3 Socio economic and Land Use

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 9 1 Shadow Flicker

Vol 3a BSR SEI Figure 9 3 1 Noise Sensitive Receptors

Technical Appendices:

Vol 4 BSR SEI TA4 3 Collision Risk Modelling Update Final

Vol 4 BSR SEI TA3 4 SEI Annex 3 4 A RVAA Upperglen Wireline

Vol 4 BSR SEI TA5 3 Figure 5 3 1 Habitat Management Areas

Vol 4 BSR SEI TA5 3 OHMP Update Final

Vol 4 BSR SEI TA6 1 SEI Annex 6 1 A PMP Update Excavated Materials

Vol 4 BSR SEI TA9 1 Transport Statement Update Final

Vol 4 BSR SEI TA9 3 Noise Assessment Update Final

Vol 4 BSR SEI TA9 3 Figure 9 3 1 Noise Sensitive Receptors

Vol 4 BSR SEI TA9 4 Carbon Calculator Update Final

NatureScot Visualisations:

Vol 3b BSR SEI VP1 A850 between Dunvegan and Edinbane

Vol 3b BSR SEI VP2 Edinbane Top Road

Vol 3b BSR SEI VP3 Junction of B884 and minor road to Orbost

Vol 3b BSR SEI VP4 Totaig

Vol 3b BSR SEI VP5 A863 junction with road to Feorlig

Vol 3b BSR SEI VP6 Roag

Vol 3b BSR SEI VP7 Macleads Table North Healabhal Mhor

Vol 3b BSR SEI VP8 A87 road near Cuidrach

Vol 3b BSR SEI VP9 A863 road near Gearymore

Vol 3b BSR SEI VP10 B885 Road

Vol 3c BSR SEI VP11 A850 A87 West of Borve

Vol 3c BSR SEI VP12 Minor Road Greshornish

Vol 3c BSR SEI VP13 A87 Eyre

Vol 3c BSR SEI VP14 The Storr

Vol 3c BSR SEI VP15 Beinn Edra

Vol 3c BSR SEI VP16 Bruach na Frithe

Vol 3c BSR SEI VP17 Uig Lochmaddy Ferry Route

Vol 3c BSR SEI VP18 Ben Tianavaig

The Highland Council Visualisations:

Vol 3d BSR SEI VP1 A850 between Dunvagen and Edinbane

Vol 3d BSR SEI VP2 Edinbane Top Road

Vol 3d BSR SEI VP3 Junction of B863 and minor road to Orbost

V ol 3d BSR SEI VP4 Totaig

VP 5 - VP 18 upload pending, please see NatureScot visualisations above in the interim.

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The Highland Council has also asked us to look at Ben Sca Redesign Wind Farm in conjunction with our other project, Balmeanach Wind Farm. The documents showing how both projects would accommodate each other are below. All of the Balmeanach Wind Farm SEI documentation can be found on the Balmeanach project website (www.balmeanachwindfarm.co.uk).

Vol 5 BAL SEI Appendix A Combined BAL BSR OHMP Final

Vol 5 BAL SEI Figure V5 1 Application Boundaries

Vol 5 BAL SEI Figure V5 2 Combined Site Layout

Vol 5 BAL SEI Figure V5 3 Environmental Designations

Vol 5 BAL SEI Figure V5 4 Site Access

Vol 5 BAL SEI Figure V5 5 Cumulative ZTV

Vol 5 BAL SEI Figure V5 6 Landscape Designations and ZTV

Vol 5 BAL SEI Figure V5 7 Landscape Character with ZTV

Vol 5 BAL SEI Figure V5 8 Key Route Settlement ZTV

Vol 5 BAL SEI Figure V5 9 Visibility of Substations

Vol 5 BAL SEI Figure V5 10a VP1 A863 Junction with road to Feorlig

Vol 5 BAL SEI Figure V5 10b VP2 Edinbane Top Road