Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the process by which environmental information is collected, incorporated in design, published and taken into account in reaching a decision on a relevant planning application.

A key part of the EIA process is the collection of environmental information, (including the assessment of the likely effects of the development on the environment) and the subsequent publication of this information in the form of an Environmental Statement (ES).

The legislation requires the assessment and description of the likely significant environmental effects of the development and any mitigation measures to reduce, prevent and offset significant effects.

EIA

A scoping exercise was undertaken in December 2008 in order to identify key significant issues at an early stage and allow these to be considered in the EIA process. Following this the EIA process and collection of environmental information is now currently underway.

Such topics included in the assessment will be:
• Ecology and nature conservation
• Access, transport and traffic
• Archaeology and cultural heritage
• Hydrology and hydrogeology
• Landscape and visual amenity
• Noise
• Telecommunications
• Tourism and recreation
• Socio economic and land use
• Aviation
• Air and climate

Please click on the link to the scoping documentation below for more information on each of these topics. The consultation included a wide range of organisations and stakeholders including Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire Councils, statutory bodies and community councils.

Click here to download the scoping documentation for Kilgallioch Windfarm

Feedback obtained from scoping and ongoing consultation, together with information gathered during the environmental assessment, were used to guide the most appropriate design and layout of the windfarm and its associated infrastructure.