ASH undertook an environmental impact assessment and prepared an Environmental Statement for the Maldie Hydroelectric Scheme

In 2005, ASH was commissioned by RWE Npower Renewables Ltd (RWE) to produce an Environmental Statement to support an application for a 4.5MW hydroelectric storage scheme on the Reay Forest estate in northwest Sutherland. Located partly within the Assynt - Coigach National Scenic Area and a Scottish Natural Heritage Wild Land Area the site is sensitive to new development

Key Tasks

EIA coordination and project management

Landscape and visual impact assessment

Landscape design

Masterplanning

Public consultation

Visualisations

Monitoring of landscape works

What we did

ASH co-ordinated the Environmental Impact Assessment for the project, managing a range of sub-consultants and using in-house expertise to carry out the landscape, visual and land use and recreation assessments. In addition, ASH was able to provide advice to RWE on the outline design of the proposal, to minimise environmental impacts in respect of the sensitive landscape heritage.

The application and Environmental Statement for the project were submitted in June 2009, and Section 36 consent was granted in January 2011. 

ASH was retained for the detailed design phase of the project to provide advice on landscape issues and was responsible for production of the landscape procedures method statement. This document, detailed the methods of working required to achieve successful reinstatement within the difficult moorland and peatland habitats and was included in the contract documentation to satisfy the Conditions of Consent. ASH was also contracted by RWE to carry out landscape monitoring to ensure correct adherence to these principles.

ASH provided advice with regard to the finishes and external layout of the semi-buried powerhouse, dam and tracks.

The scheme has been operational since 2014.

 

 

Find out more

We’re always happy to answer your questions. If you’d like to find out more about the services we can offer for your project, you can email us on info@ashglasgow.com or call 0141 227 3388.