Project Size: 108 MW Onshore Wind

Overview

The proposed Dunside Onshore Wind Farm, located in the Lammermuir Hills adjacent to the Fallago Rig Wind Farm, is a key project in EDF Renewables UK’s onshore wind portfolio. With a planned generating capacity of 108 MW of low carbon electricity, Dunsidewill contribute significantly to Scotland’s net zero ambitions. If consented, the project will establish a community benefit fund to invest in local initiatives throughout the operational life of the wind farm.

To support the project’s access strategy, EDF Renewables instructed Ardent to lead on securing the necessary land rights for part of the blade and tower delivery route, including arrangements for oversail, overrun, and the installation of a blade transfer bay to navigate built-up areas.

Our Role

Land Referencing & Plan Production

• Delivered comprehensive land referencing and plan production to EDF’s specifications, identifying all parties affected by access requirements across the delivery route.
•  Produced accurate and auditable land referencing schedules and detailed plans for use in access negotiations and planning submissions.

Landowner Engagement & Agreement Negotiation

• Engaged proactively with a range of landowners and land agents to negotiate and secure the rights necessary for delivery access along the identified routes.
• Provided strategic input on Heads of Terms, drafting documentation and responding to landowner clauses based on current market practice and sector trends.

Blade Transfer Bay Strategy

• Led negotiations for the establishment of a Blade Transfer Bay, an essential logistical solution for safely manoeuvring turbine blades through constrained or built-up areas.
• Successfully agreed option to lease terms for the required land, providing flexibility and commercial certainty for EDF Renewables.

Commercial Market Insight

• Applied detailed knowledge of commercial trends and deal structures to advise on the acceptability of proposed clauses and terms, ensuring EDF Renewablesmaintained a competitive and consistent position in the land rights market.
• Helped streamline negotiations by identifying sector-aligned compromises that balanced landowner interests with project needs.

Project Context

The Dunside Wind Farm application was submitted to the Scottish Government in June 2023, becoming a live application on 4 July 2023. The project was developed following a robust pre-application phase, during which EDF Renewables UK undertook a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This included input from ecologists, ornithologists, landscape architects, hydrologists, cultural heritage specialists and acousticians to ensure that the final design respected local sensitivities and minimised environmental impact.

Outcomes

• EDF Renewables has been supported with a clear, accurate and commercially sound access rights strategy tailored to the delivery demands of a complex onshore wind development.
• Critical access rights and a strategically located blade transfer bay have been negotiated, improving deliverability and reducing construction risk.
• Ardent’s market insight and technical knowledge ensured that all legal and commercial risks were thoroughly understood and managed.

Conclusion

Ardent’s involvement in the Dunside Onshore Wind Farm illustrates the importance of early, strategic engagement in managing access rights for major renewable energy projects. By combining technical expertise, negotiation experience and strong landowner relations, we helped pave the way—literally—for the successful delivery of a nationally significant clean energy project.