Stornoway Wind Farm

We originally objected to an application by Lewis Wind Power for a 42-turbine wind farm to the west of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. However, the removal of a number of turbines and the provision of additional data allowed us to drop our objection.

Following the applicant's offer to remove the most hazardous six turbines, RSPB and SNH withdraw their objections to the remaining 36 turbines in June 2012.

The applicant has not built the development but Scottish Ministers have granted an extension to the time they have to implement it until September 2022, 10 years after the original consent.

*Update - In May 2019 a new application was submitted for a windfarm of up to 35 turbines on the same site. Please see our casework page for more information on our work on this.*

The site abuts the Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area (SPA), designated under the EU Birds Directive for its populations of breeding birds which include golden eagles, red-throated and black-throated divers. Fieldwork commissioned by the Applicant has confirmed that all these species - as well as white-tailed eagles - are found on the development site.

This is a very different (and less damaging) proposal from the one which was rejected by Scottish Ministers in 2008. However, we have objected as the information currently available does not provide the necessary certainty about the levels of impacts on the SPA. We are concerned about turbine collisions and/or the potential loss of available habitat if eagles and divers are displaced by the windfarm.

As a whole, the Western Isles support exceptional nature conservation interest and this is reflected in the large number and extent of sites designated under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.

The islands also have substantial resources of renewable energy, but we have opposed several development proposals here because we considered them to be unacceptably damaging to the environment.

We recognise this particular site has been chosen as the result of a Western Isles-wide search for a large undesignated area best able to accommodate a windfarm. We agree that it may be possible for a windfarm to be developed on this site without unacceptable environmental impacts but this proposal falls somewhat short.

We have suggested that our concerns may be resolved by moving, or removing, a small number of turbines which appear to pose particular risk to divers and eagles, but have been unable to give more specific advice as the bird data have not been made available in a suitable format for analysis.

Scottish Natural Heritage has also objected, along similar lines to the RSPB.

Update: In June 2012, Lewis Wind Power (LWP) offered to remove the six turbines posing the greatest risk to golden eagles. After carefully considering the implications, and on the basis that this would roughly halve collision risk to golden eagles and almost eliminate disturbance effects on eagle habitat within the SPA, both RSPB and SNH withdrew their objections.

This will be a challenging site for LWP to develop, and both RSPB and SNH are seeking to work with LWP to ensure that robust monitoring and mitigation measures are put in place. Consent for 36 turbines on this site will have significant implications for assessing the contribution of other schemes to cumulative impacts of wind energy development on Lewis. 

• May 2020
  Scottish Ministers granted an extension to the date in which the 2012 consent could be implemented until September 2022
  
• June 2017
  Scottish Ministers granted an extension to the date in which the 2012 consent could be implemented until September 2020
  
• March 2015
  Scottish Ministers grant a variation to the scheme with some changes to layout and design
  
• September 2012
  Wind farm consented
• June 2012
  LWP offer to drop six turbines; RSPB and SNH remove their objections to the remaining 36 turbines
• January 2012
  LWP submit additional information to support 42-turbine scheme
• August 2011
  We object to application but indicate that a substantial windfarm could probably be accommodated on the site
• June 2011
  LWP submit new application for 42 turbines on the Stornoway site, including on a small area from the 2004 application, next to the SPA boundary
• January 2009
  Halcrow report is published, identifying Stornoway site as the best opportunity for large scale onshore wind farm development in North Lewis
• August 2008
  RSPB writes to Scottish Government, concerned that study is to propose windfarms on, or likely to affect, SPAs on the Western Isles
• May 2008
  Scottish Government commissions Halcrow study to identify renewable energy potential on the Western Isles
• April 2008
  Scottish Ministers reject LWP proposals
• December 2006
  LWP submit revised application for 181 turbines, mostly within the SPA
• November 2004
  Lewis Wind Power (LWP) apply for consent for 234 turbines in north Lewis, mostly within the Lewis Peatlands SPA

In June 2012, Lewis Wind Power offered to remove the six turbines posing the greatest risk to golden eagles. After carefully considering the implications, on the basis that this would roughly halve collision risk to golden eagles and almost eliminate disturbance effects on eagle habitat within the SPA, both RSPB and SNH withdrew their objections.

This will be a challenging site for LWP to develop, and both RSPB and SNH are seeking to work with LWP to ensure robust monitoring and mitigation measures are put in place. Consent for 36 turbines on this site will have significant implications for assessing the contribution of other schemes to cumulative impacts of wind energy development on Lewis.

• Bird guide: black-throated diver
• Bird guide: red-throated diver
• Bird guide: white-tailed eagle