Muir Mhòr Offshore Wind Farm

Project Size: Up to 1 GW Offshore Wind
Status: Consent Applications submitted December 2024

Overview

Muir Mhòr Offshore Wind Farm is a joint venture between Fred. Olsen Seawind and Vattenfall, aiming to generate up to 1 GW of offshore wind energy. Located 63 km off the coast of Peterhead, it is a strategically significant project contributing to Scotland’s renewable energy ambitions and the UK’s net zero targets.

Muir Mhòr Offshore Wind Farm is leveraging decades of industry expertise to deliver one of the world’s first commercially-viable floating wind projects, to leading standards of health and safety..

Ardent was engaged in late 2022 to provide expert land advisory services as part of the development team. Since instruction, we have worked collaboratively with project partners to define and deliver a robust and pragmatic land strategy.

Our Role

Land Strategy Development

• Delivered the initial land strategy for the project, guiding early decisions around onshore infrastructure and landowner engagement.
• Continued to shape and refine this strategy as the project evolved, incorporating planning, legal, and technical inputs.
• Land Referencing & Survey Access
• Undertook a comprehensive land referencing exercise, covering the full search area with detailed ownership and interest mapping.
•  Combined land referencing with other investigative methods to unlock significant survey access, supporting timely delivery of environmental and technical assessments.

Landfall Site Negotiations

• Led on the negotiation and drafting of Heads of Terms for the landfall site, working closely with project legal representatives and landowners.
• Facilitated agreements that are commercially viable and technically deliverable, enabling progress on critical infrastructure corridors.

Substation Site Negotiations

• Led on the negotiation and drafting of Heads of Terms for the acquisition of thesubstation site, working closely with project legal representatives and landowners.
• Again, facilitated agreements that are commercially viable and technically deliverable, enabling progress on critical infrastructure corridors.

Onshore Cable Negotiations

• Leading on the negotiation and drafting of Heads of Terms for the onshore cable route, working closely with project legal representatives and landowners.  

Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management

Optioneering Input & Integrated Teamwork

Outcomes

Conclusion

Ardent’s involvement in Muir Mhòr Offshore Wind Farm demonstrates the value of experienced land advisors embedded early in the development lifecycle. Through strategic planning, collaborative working, and proactive engagement, we have helped to de-risk a nationally significant offshore wind project that will play a vital role in delivering clean energy to the UK