our Projects
Below are examples of some of the projects that we have supported.
Ecological
Image: Eyes on the Bog Totemic Marker
Image: Fish farm site visit
Image: Proposed design of spaceport
Image taken by Beth Hunt.
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Location: Achiltibuie, Ullapool – Northwest Highlands
Client: Summer Isles Enterprises Ltd
The Project: Summer Isles Enterprises are in the process of acquiring the Achiltibuie Smokehouse – the former residence of a local business which once was an important source of local employment within the community but now lays in a dilapidated state - from the Coigach Community Development Company on the condition that they restore or rebuild the property. The aim for Summer Isles Enterprises is to repurpose the site and build a new multi-purpose building that will support their operations on Tanera Mòr and provide several jobs for the local community.
Our Role: Over the years that the Smokehouse building has been unoccupied it has become attractive to bats and now hosts a medium-sized pipistrelle maternity colony through the summer months. Therefore, Atlantic58 have been contracted to carry out a Preliminary Roost Assessment and the subsequent Emergence surveys and reporting to support an application for a NatureScot ‘Work Affecting Bats’ licence, which will allow Summer Isles Enterprises to demolish the existing structure and construct a new fit-for-purpose structure which includes a compensatory, or replacement, maternity bat loft. Atlantic58 provided further support by providing licenced ECoW supervision for the deconstruction of the original building.
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Location: Cheesebay, Lochmaddy, North Uist
Client: Mowi (Scotland) Ltd
The Project: Redevelopment of an existing shorebase to improve shore-side support operations for three existing fish farms at Cheesebay. The redevelop proposal lies within a number of designated sites, including a SSSI, NSA, and Ramsar site.
Our Role: Under national planning requirements (NPF4) introduced in 2024, certain non-EIA developments are required to develop biodiversity enhancement options. Atlantic58 completed desk and field-based assessments of ecological receptors focusing on protected species and construction proposals to identify options for habitat and biodiversity enhancement. A suite of recommendations were developed as part of the assessment including enhancements for otter, breeding birds and pollinators.
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Location: Carloway, Isle of Lewis
Client: Calmax Ltd (for Scottish Water)
The Project: Scottish Water are aiming to improve conservation in drinking water catchment areas, in addition to delivering on wider commitments to biodiversity enhancement. As part of a range of national initiatives, Scottish Water is taking forward a number of locally based peatland restoration projects on the Isle of Lewis in collaboration with local communities and grazing committees..
Our Role: Atlantic58 has completed several peatland restoration feasibility reports for restoration initiatives in and around statutory Drinking Water catchments managed by Scottish Water. In addition to the delivery of Peatland Restoration Feasibility Reports, supporting activities included the submission of CAR applications to SEPA for the impoundment of watercourses and also the submission of information to support the Prior Notification process to the planning authority to secure permitted development rights.
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Location: Ness-Tolsta Heritage Trail, Galson Estate, Isle of Lewis
Land Owner: Galson Estate Trust (Urras Oighreachd Ghabsainn)
The Project: Eyes on the Bog is an IUCN UK Peatland Programme grant-funded initiative which provides scientifically robust, repeatable, affordable and longterm monitoring of peatland health.
Our Role:
Atlantic58 have set up the first Eyes on the Bog monitoring location in the Outer Hebrides on Galson Estate Trust’s Ness-Tolsta Heritage Trail. This includes a totemic marker for the public to engage with and equipment for monitoring the water table and surface level of the bog. More information about this can be found under the news item on our website titled: Atlantic58 celebrates historic milestone!
How to get involved: Park in the carparking area Filiscleitir chapel, Sgiorgarstaigh loop, and walk 2.3 miles along the peat track to reach the curlew totemic marker. Then take a landscape photograph through the view finder and upload using the QR code or email to us at: eotb.outerhebrides@gmail.com. The marker is located at the WhatThreeWords: //socialite.deduct.displays.
Environmental impact assessment (EIA)
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Location: Loch Erisort, Isle of Lewis
Client: Mowi (Scotland) Ltd
The Project: Development of a new commercial fish farm, to facilitate the relinquishment and decommissioning of an existing fish farm site within the Loch Erisort complex. The new fish farm will be located further offshore, in conditions of greater flushing to support with carbon dispersion and will adopt larger net sizes to improve fish welfare.
Our Role: Atlantic58 Ltd was appointed to support the EIA process. To date support includes the preparation of a Request for a Scoping Opinion under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 which was submitted to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (CnES) in August 2024. Atlantic58 are also project managing the preparation of the EIA Report, authoring the majority of chapters in-house, with support from LUC for the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
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Location: Scolpaig, North Uist
Client: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar/Western Isles Council
The Project: Delivery of an EIA for the construction and operation of a suborbital spaceport facility at Scolpaig Farm on the north-west coast of North Uist. The purpose of the project is to provide infrastructure for the launch of suborbital sounding or research rockets, with up to 10 launches a year.
The project was consented in July 2023, and since consent, the project continues to progress the construction planning phase and Airspace Change Proposal (ACP) process.
Our Role: Atlantic58 provided co-project management services with Aquatera to deliver the EIA for the UK's first suborbital rocket launching facility. The project involved management of multiple subcontractors and project partners to assess and mitigate complex issues around maritime management processes, hazardous substances and emissions under a new regulatory regime (Space Industry Act 2018). Atlantic58 exclusively managed the Supplementary Environmental Information process as part of post submission requirements.
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Location: Hellisay, Sound of Barra
Client: Aquatera (for Mowi (Scotland) Ltd)
The Project: In line with the aspirations to move fish farms out of quiescent sea lochs into areas with more dynamic flushing regimes, new and improved infrastructure is needed to survive greater hydrodynamic forces and reduce the potential for net damage. The project represented a major infrastructure upgrade to the existing site, including a new mooring system, larger and more hydrodynamically resilient pens.
Our Role: The existing site is located within a sensitive and hydrodynamically complex area within the Sound of Barra SAC, designated for marine habitats including maerl beds and seagrass. Atlantic58 managed and collated the EIA Report for the infrastructure upgrade, including a synthesis of benthic survey reports over a 10-year period, Information to Support a Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) and a detailed impact assessment on maerl. Key mitigations developed include research of maerl habitat within a novel maerl biotope as part of an Environmental Management Plan.
Environmental Management and Assessment
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Location: Scolpaig, North Uist
Client: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar / Western Isles Council
The Project: The construction phase of a suborbital spaceport facility at Scolpaig Farm, following project consent in July 2023.
Our Role (EnvCoW): Atlantic58 is appointed as the Environmental Clerk of Works (EnvCOW) to oversee the construction phase. This role focuses on supporting the discharge of planning conditions and providing environmental guidance for the Airspace Change Proposal (ACP
social impact assessment / socio-economic
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Location: Spiorad na Mara, Isle of Lewis
Client: ERM (for Northland Power Inc)
The Project: Northland Power Inc have proposed to install an offshore windfarm off the west coast of Lewis, with an expected installed capacity of approximately 900 MW. In recognition of the potential transformational nature of the project, a dedicated Social Impact Assessment has been commissioned to inform the EIA process.
Our Role: Atlantic58 is working together with global consultancy ERM to undertake a detailed Social Impact Assessment of the proposed windfarm. The purpose of the SIA is to understand where there may be significant impacts on communities from the project, including people's way of life, heritage and culture, health, wellbeing, personal and property rights. Atlantic58 will also co-author the Socio-Economic EIA chapter for the development with ERM.
In parallel, Atlantic58 has independently secured funding from Innovate UK to develop a targeted SIA assessment methodology in collaboration with a research team of social scientists from the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI). The new methodology will be tailored to the unique social and cultural context of the Western Isles.
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Location: Western Isles (Regional)
Client: Consortium partner with Aquatera and Fulton Fisheries for Harris Development Ltd with funding from Marine Scotland.
The Project: Socioeconomic analysis of a recreational catch and release Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery based in the Western Isles.
Our Role: Atlantic58 led on stakeholder identification, developed and assessed online and face to face consultation responses, undertook the literature review and environmental research underpinning the assessment, in addition to supply chain analysis.