SSE Renewables has started enabling works at Strathy North wind farm, which lies in an area of commercial forestry plantation, 7km south of Strathy village in Sutherland.
The work will help prepare the site over the next few months for the construction of the 33 turbine wind farm and will be undertaken by highland-based civil contractor RJ McLeods.
SSE’s Project Manager, Rod Crawford, said “This is an important step forward in preparing for the main construction phase later in the year, and whilst we are very much in the early preparatory stages of the project, we are still expecting some opportunities for local businesses during this phase of works.
“Later in the year we will hold a local ‘Meet the Buyer’ event which will feature our new Highlands and Islands Open4Business web portal at www.sseopen4business-highlands.com. The event will help raise awareness of the sorts of skills and services that we’ll be looking for during the main construction works and the opportunities available to local businesses to get involved with the project. We will also set up regular liaison meetings for the local Community Councils and wider community around the start of the main construction works in order to keep them up to date with the project, help answer any questions they may have, and ensure that we’re listening to their feedback.”
Janette MacKay, Strathy & Armadale Community Council Chairperson, said “We have been pleased with the way that SSE has engaged with us over the last few years. They have taken the time to discuss things properly, keep us up to date, and address any concerns or issues that we have raised.
“SSE has also made meaningful commitments to the community such as installing cattle grids and safety signs during the construction phase as a goodwill gesture, and helping supply the local sawmill with timber once the new site access track (bypassing Strathy village) is built. We have also already had some local people receive employment and business from the project at this early stage, and we look forward to further job opportunities and establishment of the local community funds once we enter the main construction phase.”
Over the last couple of weeks a site compound for these works has been set up near the site entrance at Dallangwell and equipment and machinery delivered. A temporary bridge will be installed at Dallangwell as part of the works and a new platform constructed for the on-site substation. To support this activity some on-site road works will also be undertaken and a borrow pit opened to obtain rock. The forestry works, which were started in October last year and involve a mix of mulching and felling, will also continue in parallel through into the main construction works later in the year.
You can keep up-to-date with the progress at Strathy North wind farm by visiting the project's microsite.