Project Info
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
The Ben Sca wind farm, consented in November 2020, comprises seven wind turbines, each with a blade tip height of up to 135 metres.
The original planning application for the Ben Sca Wind Farm comprised 9 wind turbines, arranged in a single linear row.
In response to comments received from the Highland Council planners and consultees, primarily in relation to the potential landscape and visual effects resulting from the turbines located closest to the summit of Ben Sca, the project was reduced to 7 wind turbines, removing the two turbines on the highest ground.
The plan below shows the consented 7-turbine and associated infrastructure layout.
Ben Sca Wind Farm Extension - April 2022 Consent
To enhance the efficiency and associated benefits of the wind farm, the project team undertook a feasibility study looking at all environmental and technical constraints to ascertain whether two additional wind turbines could be accommodated within the site at a more suitable location to that originally proposed near the summit of Ben Sca. The project has a grid connection agreement in place to allow export from nine turbines and therefore the addition of two turbines to the consented seven will enable this export capacity to be maximised.
The most suitable location for the additional two turbines was identified to the northwest of the consented site, at the bottom of the row of consented turbines. These two turbines were proposed on lower ground within forestry so as to minimise landscape and visual impacts. In order to present a balanced design with the seven turbines previously consented and clear the tree canopy, the two additional wind turbines were proposed to have a tip height of 149.9m, but retain the same 115m rotor diameter as the other seven turbines.
The two Extension turbines were consented by The Highland Council in April 2022.
VP1 - A850 lay-by
VP2 - Edinbane Top Road
Proposed Amendments - September 2023
In September 2023, a screening and scoping request was submitted to The Highland Council setting out the intention to apply for planning permission to amend the turbine dimensions of the consented seven turbines of the Ben Sca Wind Farm and consented two turbines of the Ben Sca Extension Wind Farm, and seek permission for minor adjustments to the turbine locations and associated infrastructure.
It is proposed that the following amendments are made to the scheme:
- increase blade tip height for 7 turbines by up to 14.9m (from 135m to 149.9m);
- increase the rotor size of all 9 turbines by up to 23m (from 115m to 138m);
- increase spacing to improve yield and efficiency, minor adjustment to locations, maximum up to 132m movement from consented positions (Ben Sca Extension turbines remain in same locations as consented) with associated adjustments to the access tracks and crane hardstanding to accommodate the new locations;
- re-location of the onsite substation to the southern area of the site;
- additional of second temporary construction compound adjacent to Ben Aketil Wind Farm track;
- increase of generation capacity from consented 37.8MW to up to 40.8MW (increase in annual output from approximately 125,000MWh to 145,000MWh) to maximise grid connection; and
- increase operational life from 30 years to 40 years.
The figure below presents a comparison between the position of the consented infrastructure and the amendments proposed (click on image to expand).
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. The planning application documents are available to view through the below links. These documents are also available through The Highland Council planning website (https://wam.highland.gov.uk/wa... ) by searching for planning reference 24/01404/FUL, where you are invited to pass comment on the proposals.
BSR Planning, Design and Access Statement
BSR Vol 2 EIA Ch1 Intro Project Description
BSR Vol 2 EIA Ch2 Policy Context
BSR Vol 2 EIA Ch3 Landscape Visual
BSR Vol 2 EIA Ch6 Hydrology Hydrogeology and Soils
BSR Vol 2 EIA Ch7 Cultural Heritage
BSR Vol 2 EIA Ch8 Socio economics Land Use
BSR Vol 2 EIA Ch9 Other Considerations
BSR Vol 2 EIA Ch10 Schedule of Mitigation
BSR Vol 2 EIA Ch11 Summary of Effects
Figures:
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 1 Site Location
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 2 Application Boundary
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 3 Environmental Designations
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 4 Onsite Constraints
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 5 Consented Site Layout
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 6 Proposed Site Layout
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 7 Comparative Site Layout
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 8a Site Access
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 9 Typical Turbine Elevation
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 10 Indicative Turbine Foundation
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 11 Indicative Track Detail
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 12 Indicative Crane Hardstanding
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 13 Indicative Cable Trench Detail
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 14 Indicative Substation Compound
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 15 Typical Control Building Elevations
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 16 Indicative Construction Compound
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 17a Borrow Pit 1
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 17b Borrow Pit 2
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 17c Borrow Pit 3
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 18 Substation ZTV
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 19 Cumulative 10km
BSR Vol 3a Figure 1 20 Cumulative 10km Scoping
BSR Vol 3a Figure 3 1 ZTV Bare Ground A1 opt
BSR Vol 3a Figure 3 2 ZTV with Screening A1 opt
BSR Vol 3a Figure 3 3 ZTV Comparative A1 opt
BSR Vol 3a Figure 3 4 Topography
BSR Vol 3a Figure 3 5 Landscape Character
BSR Vol 3a Figure 3 6 Landscape Character and Visibility
BSR Vol 3a Figure 3 7 Routes and Visibility
BSR Vol 3a Figure 3 8 Cumulative Sites
BSR Vol 3a Figure 3 9 CZTV with Operational Consented Repower Redesign Ext A1 opt
BSR Vol 3a Figure 3 10 CZTV with Balmeanach A1 opt
BSR Vol 3a Figure 3 11 CZTV with Waternish A1 opt
BSR Vol 3a Figure 4 1 VP Locations and Viewsheds
BSR Vol 3a Figure 4 2 Ornithology Survey Area
BSR Vol 3a Figure 4 3 1 WE Flightlines
BSR Vol 3a Figure 4 3 2 GE Flightlines
BSR Vol 3a Figure 4 3 3 Other Spp Flightlines
BSR Vol 3a Figure 4 4 Breeding Wader Results
BSR Vol 3a Figure 5 1 Ecological Designations
BSR Vol 3a Figure 5 2 UK Habitat Data 2018
BSR Vol 3a Figure 5 3 NVC Data 2018
BSR Vol 3a Figure 6 1 Local Hydrology
BSR Vol 3a Figure 6 3 Superficial Geology
BSR Vol 3a Figure 6 4 Peatland Classification
BSR Vol 3a Figure 6 5 Bedrock Geology
BSR Vol 3a Figure 6 6 Regional Hydrology
BSR Vol 3a Figure 6 7 Groundwater Vulnerability
BSR Vol 3a Figure 8 1 Zone of Theoretical Visibility
BSR Vol 3a Figure 8 2 Community Council Areas
BSR Vol 3a Figure 8 3 Socio economic and Land Use Map
BSR Vol 3a Figure 9 1 Shadow Flicker
Technical Appendices:
BSR Vol 4 TA3 1 LV Methodology
BSR Vol 4 TA3 2 Landscape Sensitivity
BSR Vol 4 TA3 3 Viewpoint Analysis
BSR Vol 4 TA3 4 RVAA inc Fig 3 4 1 Annexes
BSR Vol 4 TA3 5 Effects less than Moderate
BSR Vol 4 TA4 1 Ornithology Surveys 2023
BSR Vol 4 TA4 3 Avian Collision Risk Report
BSR Vol 4 TA4 4 Population Modelling WTE Balmeanach
BSR Vol 4 Figure 4 3 1 WE Flightlines
BSR Vol 4 Figure 4 3 2 GE Flightlines
BSR Vol 4 Figure 4 3 3 Other Spp Flightlines
BSR Vol 4 TA5 1 Habitat Vegetation Survey
BSR Vol 4 Figure 5 1 1 Survey Area
BSR Vol 4 Figure 5 1 2 Blanket Bog Assessment Locations
BSR Vol 4 Figure 5 1 3 UK Habitat Survey
BSR Vol 4 Figure 5 1 4 NVC Survey
BSR Vol 4 TA5 2 Protected Mammals Survey Report
BSR Vol 4 Figure 5 2 1 Protected Mammal Survey Results
BSR ol 4 Figure 5 3 1 Proposed Peatland Restoration Areas
BSR Vol 4 TA5 4 Forestry with Annexes 5 4 A B C
BSR Vol 4 Figure 5 4 1 Location Map
BSR Vol 4 Figure 5 4 2 Crop Stratification
BSR Vol 4 Figure 5 4 3 Species
BSR Vol 4 TA6 1 PMP with Annex 6 1 A
BSR Vol 4 Figure 6 1 1 Peat Depth
BSR Vol 4 Figure 6 1 2 Peat Depth over 0 5m
BSR Vol 4 Figure 6 1 3 Detailed Peat Depth
BSR Vol 4 TA6 2 PLHRA with Annexes
BSR Vol 4 Figure 6 2 2 Slide Risk
BSR Vol 4 Figure 6 2 3 Geomorphology
BSR Vol 4 Figure 8 1 1 Proposed Paths Plan
BSR Vol 4 TA9 1 Transport Statement
BSR Vol 4 Figure 9 1 1 Study Area
BSR Vol 4 Figure 9 1 2 Traffic Count Locations
BSR Vol 4 Figure 9 1 3 Accident Locations
BSR Vol 4 TA9 1 Annex 9 1 A BS Ch12 Transport
BSR Vol 4 TA9 1 Annex 9 1 B AILRS
BSR Vol 4 TA9 1 Annex 9 1 C Materials Calculator
BSR Vol 4 TA9 1 Annex 9 1 D Traffic Data
BSR Vol 4 TA9 1 Annex 9 1 E Accident Data
BSR Vol 4 Figure 9 3 1 Noise Sensitive Receptors
BSR Vol 4 TA9 4 Carbon Calculator inc Annex 9 4 A
NatureScot Visualisations:
BSR Vol 3b Nature Scot Visuals VP1 opt
BSR Vol 3b Nature Scot Visuals VP2 opt
BSR Vol 3b Nature Scot Visuals VP3
BSR Vol 3b Nature Scot Visuals VP4
BSR Vol 3b Nature Scot Visuals VP5 opt
BSR Vol 3b Nature Scot Visuals VP6 opt
BSR Vol 3b Nature Scot Visuals VP7
BSR Vol 3b Nature Scot Visuals VP8 opt
BSR Vol 3b Nature Scot Visuals VP9
BSR Vol 3b Nature Scot Visuals VP10
BSR Vol 3c Nature Scot Visuals VP11
BSR Vol 3c Nature Scot Visuals VP12 opt
BSR Vol 3c Nature Scot Visuals VP13
BSR Vol 3c Nature Scot Visuals VP14
BSR Vol 3c Nature Scot Visuals VP15
BSR Vol 3c Nature Scot Visuals VP16
BSR Vol 3c Nature Scot Visuals VP17
BSR Vol 3c Nature Scot Visuals VP18
The Highland Council Visualisations:
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 through The Highland Council planning portal (reference 24/01404/FUL) - https://wam.highland.gov.uk/wa...
You can view the revised layout by clicking on the below link. All other documentation reflecting the revised plans will be available to view here in due course.