Charities, youth groups, and voluntary organisations are among those who could benefit, thanks to the new arrangement which has been drafted by Banks’ Renewables development team. It follows consultation and discussions with local people around the proposed Ard Ghaoth Wind Farm, near Drymen in Stirlingshire.
As part of its development with care policy, Hamilton-based Banks Renewables has spent 18 months consulting families and businesses near the proposed 10 turbine site. If approved, the wind farm would generate up to 20 MW, enough to meet the annual electricity requirements of 11,100 homes. Annually it would remove around 22,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere that would be released producing that energy by non-renewable means.
Feedback from the community has seen the proposed number of turbines halved while the contribution as a percentage of the gross revenue of the proposed scheme has doubled.
“We are delighted to have worked with the people living around our Ard Ghaoth site to come up with a genuinely innovative solution to delivering long lasting benefits to local communities –– which has been driven by what local people actually want,” comments Colin Anderson, director at Banks Renewables. “It perfectly demonstrates what our development with care approach is all about and will be worth about £7.2 million to the local community, who now have a very real stake in the Ard Ghaoth development.”
As part of the package, the community’s share will be placed into a dedicated community fund, with the average annual payment over the life of the site expected to be around £288,000. This equates to £7,206,000 worth of funds available to community projects throughout the 25 year life span of the wind farm, which could be delivered in partnership with surrounding communities, reflecting their own priorities.
Nearby Earlsburn Wind Farm, working with Fintry Development Trust, is recognised as one of the best examples of community wind farming in Scotland and Ard Ghaoth is set to build on this positive example to ensure that the local community shares in the success of the wind farm. The site straddles two farms owned and operated by local families, both of whom are delighted with the benefits package proposed for local communities.
Husband and wife Shona and Bruce Duncan are involved in the running of Blairfad Farm. Mrs Duncan says: “Renewable energy will be crucial to Scotland in the coming years, but before we considered using part of our land for a wind farm we thoroughly checked the credentials of the developer. We were reassured by the work of Banks Renewables, who have been transparent and supportive and listened to local views throughout their engagement with the community.”
Neighbour Jane Harrower at Craigievern Farm adds: “This isn’t just about clean, green energy for Scotland, it also helps us to reinvest in further rural development in the local area. The fact our local community will really benefit from the wind farm is brilliant news. We are really thrilled to be part of this and delighted the wider community now has such a major stake in the success of the development.”
Among local businesses which are supportive of the development is the Buchanan Arms Hotel and Spa in Drymen, where operations director Volker Steinemann, welcomed the proposals and the generous community benefit package. He is optimistic that the community fund will bring benefits for education and leisure which should have a positive and long-term impact on the area. “We believe businesses like ours will see opportunities from the construction and maintenance of the wind farm, while the whole area will see greater opportunities thanks to the benefit fund.”
Banks Renewables is part of the Banks Group, a family firm founded in 1976, which now employs 380 people in the renewable energy, property and mining sectors. The company’s Development with Care approach underpins all its work, driving community consultation and environmental excellence.
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