Lewis Wind Farms

A selection of links concerning recent development proposals for the Lewis Windfarm

Lewis Windfarm proposals
A site backed by Lewis WindPower Ltd outlining the proposals and emphasising the benefits of significant stimulation to the local construction industry and island economy as well as the economic benefits to the landowners, the members and crofting communities. Includes the full environmental statement, with associated graphics, reconstructions, etc. The proposals were finally rejected by the Scottish Government in April 2008, but in June 2010 plans were announced for a new site, the Stornoway Wind Farm Project.

Moorland without Turbines
The main protest site against the development, with details of a broad range of objections to the proposals. Although the main Lewis proposals have now been rejected, other proposals on Lewis and elsewhere are still on-going.

Lewis WindPower Planning Application
Western Isles Council provide access to the original planning application (all 600-odd pages!). Chapter 8 (from p207) covers Archaeology and Cultural Heritage and includes statements relating to the various national planning policy guidelines. The archaeological impact statement forming part of the Environmental Impact Assessment can be found from p506 including proposals for mitigation. (You might also want to search the PDF for 'archaeology' and similar terms!). A much shorter Non-Technical Summary of the Environmental Statement is also available.

Scottish Natural Heritage Strategic Locational Guidance for Onshore Wind farms
Scottish Natural Heritage's policy on Renewable Energy which provides a range of background facts and figures.

British Wind Energy Association
The industry champion carries a number of press releases about the success of wind energy developments including references to the Lewis proposals (you'll need to do a search for these). There is a handy FAQ and a number of more general reports and studies about wind energy plus a host of guidelines for would-be developers which interestingly make no specific reference to cultural heritage ...

BBC News
The BBC has carried several news items concerning the Lewis windfarm proposals, including:

• Mixed emotions over wind decision
(April 2008)

• 'Largest' wind farm plan rejected
(April 2008)

• Council backs huge windfarm plan
(June 2005)

• Green Light for Lewis windfarm
(June 2005)

• Windfarm 'catastrophic' for isle
(May 2005)

• Greenpeace opposes windfarm plan
(April 2005)

• Poll shows windfarm opposition
(March 2005)

• Storm grows over giant windfarm
(January 2005)

• Giant wind farm plans for island
(March 2004)

• and you can search for latest updates ...