Services

Environmental impact assessment

Landscape and visual impact assessment

Landscape design and management

Visualisations and Graphic Support

Key Tasks

Route / Site options appraisal

Screening and Scoping

EIA coordination and project management

Landscape and visual impact assessment

Landscape mitigation

Stakeholder consultation

Public consultation

Environmental monitoring during construction

What we did

The first phase of the works involved undertaking a detailed routeing study to identify potential overhead, underground and subsea cable routes between Carradale and Hunterston, as well as the identification of new substation site options on the Kintyre Coast.

ASH adopted a landscape led approach, using specialist ecologists and archaeologists as required to assist in the identification of alternative routes and sites.

ASH prepared a Consultation Document for issue to Argyll and Bute Council and statutory consultees, setting out the options considered and identifying a preferred route and substation site. A public consultation event was also held.

The preferred route involved a new 132 kV overhead line from Carradale to a new substation near Crossaig on the east coast of Kintyre. An underground cable connects the substation to the coast, where it converts to sub-sea cable and is routed to the north of Arran to Portencross, Ayrshire. A further section of underground cable completes the connection to Hunterston Substation.

To secure planning consent for the preferred route, ASH was responsible for preparing Environmental Appraisals for the above ground elements. ASH undertook the landscape and visual impact assessment and project managed a team of specialist consultants to undertake ecological and archaeological surveys.

ASH prepared the Carradale to Crossaig 132 kV Overhead Line Environmental Appraisal and the Crossaig Substation Environmental Appraisal for submission in September 2010. Consent has been granted and construction was completed in 2016.