Item7Appendix2HRA20190080DET

This document contains a Habitat Regulations Appraisal (HRA) proforma undertaken by the Cairngorms National Park Authority for a proposed project by Balmoral Estates. The project involves the erection of a substation and installation of a buried 11kV cable connecting a powerhouse to the substation, spanning approximately 5km, with a portion running through agricultural fields, wooded areas, and beneath gardens. The appraisal assesses the potential impacts of the project on the River Dee Special Area of Conservation (SAC), focusing on Atlantic salmon, otters, and freshwater pearl mussels. While the project was deemed to have a potentially significant effect on Atlantic salmon and otters, with mitigation measures like pre-construction surveys, pollution prevention plans, and careful construction practices, it was ultimately concluded that the project would not adversely affect the integrity of the site.