Glenapp:
Supporting the Community

Our intention is to build positive relationships at the local level and enable communities to benefit from the work we do.

We pride ourselves with our Corporate Social Policy. We strive to be equitable and transparent with our stakeholders. Supporting the communities in which we work forms an integral part of this. Our intention is to build positive relationships at the local level and enable communities to benefit from the work we do.

Engagement

Different communities have different needs. We engage with each community at early stage of development to understand their aspirations and concerns. This helps us tailor our support in accordance with the need and expectations of the communities.

We want to make sure that everyone understands our proposals and that we understand all the concerns that the community has.

We will undertake the following engagement steps:

  • Our initial community event was held on Thursday 6th June 2024, at Ballantrae Community Centre, 36B Main St, Ballantrae, Girvan, Scotland.
  • Our second community event was held on Monday 7th October 2024, at Ballantrae Community Centre, 36B Main St, Ballantrae, Girvan, Scotland.
  • We also met separately with Ballantrae Community Council to listen to and discuss their concerns and feedback. We are aware that they are undertaking their own consultation on the proposals and welcome the opportunity to further engage with them.
  • Follow up meetings based on the formal pre-application engagement.
  • Formal pre-application engagement based on the detailed layout and design for the site. This will include town hall meetings and question and answer sessions to address any concerns or queries. To submit your comments, please email us at info@lower48energy.com. The closing date for community comments will be 28th October 2024, any comments received after this will be logged but may not be reflected in the next steps of design development.

If the project is consented, we will work with the community during construction phase to minimise disruption and ensure proposed benefits and support are put in place.

We have identified the following groups which we will seek to engage with as part of the project:

  • Smyrton Residents and local nearby properties
  • Ballantrae Community Council
  • Barhill Community Council

If you represent a group that isn’t listed, or you would like to be kept informed as an individual, please get in touch using the contact form.

Support

Prioritising local supply chain

We will prioritise local supply chain during the construction phase of the project. Contractors will be encouraged to invest jobs, time, resources, and money in the nearby communities. Should the project be consented we will undertake further engagement to ensure we support local supply chains where-ever possible.

Technical Education and Employment Pathways

Within each project, we aim to create potential T Level/apprenticeship/graduate opportunities in fields such as electrical, mechanical, civil engineering, construction, and town planning. These roles will offer local young people hands-on work experience, with Lower 48 Energy, committed to providing support that helps launch their careers in the renewable energy sector. Through this initiative, we’re excited to foster talent and contribute to South Ayrshire's growing green energy workforce.

Community Benefit

Over the lifetime of the project, we are committed to investing into a Community Benefits Package that will include a Community Fund specifically for the development. We would seek to engage with the communities affected to establish the appropriate geographic area for benefits and the community priorities in order to provide a package that best delivers on the community's needs.  We would seek to support the community in forming the appropriate structures to manage any ongoing benefits which could be used to deliver a wide range of initiatives for the communities.

We would index the fund with the net profits of the project so that we deliver transparency along the way.