Vale of Leven Wind Farm: what do people think of plans so far?

The Vale of Leven Windfarm’s turbines would be partially visible from viewpoints such as Ben Bouie, sections of the Three Lochs Way, and parts of Loch Lomond’s west shore if proposals for the site at Auchenreoch Muir, at the western end of the Kilpatrick Hills, secure planning permission.

The proposals for 10 turbines, brought before residents during three public consultation meetings recently, are being developed by Coriolis Energy - a specialist independent wind farm company - and ESB, Ireland’s part-state-owned utility company.

The site is more than 2km from the nearest homes, in parts of Bonhill, while Alexandria, Dumbarton and Gartocharn would all be less than 10km away.

Ben Bouie is also within 10km of the site, while Luss is within 15km.

The project’s website states that each turbine is “expected to have a maximum tip height of up to 250 metres”, and that the development in total would have a maximum generating capacity of 70 megawatts (MW).

Plans for turbines up to 220 metres tall at a site in East Ayrshire were approved in 2020, and a proposed extension to the same site - this time with turbines which would be up to 260m to the tip of the blade - was unveiled last year.

Coriolis Energy has yet to submit a formal application for planning permission for its Vale of Leven Wind Farm, but hopes to lodge a bid with the Scottish Government for consent in spring 2023.

James Baird, Coriolis Energy’s project manager, said: “We would like to thank all residents, businesses and community representatives who attended our first exhibition events earlier this month and provided feedback on the plans.

“We had more than 260 visitors attend the events over the three days and we really appreciate the feedback and comments on the plans. 

“We will produce a summary of the consultation and share it with the community and on our project website and we look forward to further events in 2023 to update on the project.”

Attendees at the three public exhibitions  were told that the plans include a proposed ‘community benefits package’ of £5,000 per MW of installed capacity which would generate £350,000 per annum for community schemes in Dumbarton and the Vale. 

Coriolis also says it intends to set up the wind farm as a ‘community/shared ownership’ initiative if permission is granted, giving residents the opportunity to invest in the project.

The wind farm will be set up as a community/shared ownership wind farm, giving locals the opportunity to invest in the project.

Mr Baird added: “If consented, the wind farm proposal can make a meaningful renewable energy contribution and provide clean, green energy. 

“The Vale of Leven project represents a significant investment into the local area and we are committed to working with local companies where possible to deliver the wind farm.

“We are committed to providing community benefit and shared ownership so the local community has a stake in the project.”

The plans have been received with caution from locals, with Bonhill and Dalmonach Community Council (BDCC) insisting that although the Coriolis presentation plans had been ‘thorough’, there are still concerns held by many.

Jack Fordy, chair of BDCC, said: “If the projections are to be believed, the community payback from these turbines would give a valuable boost to the community.

“However, the presentation gave a good representation of the visual intrusion, which is how most people will experience any such development.

“The proposed site is very close to the residential areas of Beechwood (1.2 km),  Pappert and Braehead (1.8km).

“At such close range there will be noise and vibration issues with these giant machines which would affect a large number of residents; Beechwood in particular.

“Those are our main concerns, around the noise and vibration.”

No visualisations of what the turbines could look like when seen from viewpoints in the Helensburgh and Lomond area have yet been produced in public documents.

The proposed development is situated at the same location, but with different access routes and site boundaries, as a previous wind farm proposal.

A planning application was submitted by Lomond Energy in 2012 for a project known as the Merkins Wind Farm, which would have comprised 10 turbines, each 120 metres tall to the tip of the blade.

However, that proposal was turned down by West Dunbartonshire Council in 2013.

Reverend Ian Miller, the chair of Alexandria Community Council, admitted that although there will be some who oppose the plans, it could prove to be beneficial to the area.

He said: “My initial off-the-cuff reaction would be that we have realised, with the fuel crisis, that things have got to change.

“People don’t like change, and certainly don’t like change when it’s in their own backyard.

“But it has to be in somebody’s backyard.

“We need to harness the power of the wind, the sea and the waves, and Scotland is very well placed for this.

“And I’ve got to say, for the benefit of all, I really can’t object to it.”

Coriolis Energy hopes to submit its formal planning application to the Scottish Government in the spring; the government will then hold a separate consultation with the public.