Media 2012 Press Releases

SBA powers up - 23/2/2012

Key appointment and nine wins for transport specialist

A leading transport specialist has appointed a new regional director for its Edinburgh office and secured nine wind farm projects across the UK and Ireland.

The new wins and appointment further strengthen Savell Bird and Axon’s (SBA), part of the WYG Group, transport planning service and positions the business for future growth.  Gordon Buchan, along with the three directors appointed back in October, will play an important role in delivering WYG’s strategy of focusing its resources on attractive markets, including renewable energy, and building the business’s profile overseas.

Working on behalf of turbine manufacturers, developers, planning agents and power firms, the project wins vary in size from single turbine installations in rural Perthshire, through to one of the largest wind farm applications in Ireland.  It is estimated that the combined power of the nine wind farms could be sufficient to power approximately 400,000 homes.

Gordon Buchan, Edinburgh’s Regional Director, SBA said: “SBA has an excellent technical reputation and I am delighted to have joined a dynamic firm with high aspirations.  In Edinburgh we have already seen an upsurge in commissions and I am keen to expand from our traditional markets into new areas of growth.

“We are winning significant projects that not only reinforce our expertise in transport planning but establish the firm as a major player in the renewables sector.  Our workload in Edinburgh is increasing and I am confident that we will be adding to this tally of wins throughout the coming year.

“According to RenewablesUK in 2011 the UK saw the total of wind energy projects with planning approvals rise to 7.3GW, taking the total number of homes potentially powered by wind within the next few years to over 5 million.  SBA is well placed to serve the many new and established businesses in this dynamic sector.”

In preparing the planning submissions for the nine projects, SBA will provide specialist transport planning advice on transporting the abnormal turbine loads to the sites, reviewing the potential traffic impact associated with the construction phases and assisting with the discharge of any associated planning conditions.

Iain Bisset, Managing Director, Transport said: “The combination of Gordon’s appointment and these projects all form a part of our wider strategy to strengthen the business and develop further. 

“With more than 15 years’ experience in providing private sector transport planning advice to a wide range of developers across the UK, a specialism in the transport challenges associated with the renewables sector and having worked on over 150 wind farm sites, Gordon is the best person to develop and push forward our renewable energy offering.

“With our expanding team in Edinburgh and other offices, we are sending a strong message to our clients and the wider market that we have strength and breadth of experience to deal with a wide range of opportunities as the country emerges from recession.”

The Government's Renewable Energy strategy states that by 2020 15 per cent of all the UK's energy will come from renewables, which means 35-45 percent of electricity will have to come from green sources.  The major share will have to be from wind generation which will require over £60b of investment.

The report 'Building a Low Carbon Economy' (Committee on Climate Change, December 2008) highlights that by 2020 onshore and offshore wind together can deliver 30 per cent of the UK's electricity supply, and by 2030, will be a fundamental part of decarbonisation of the economy.

Image caption: Siemens turbine blade being transported by Give Svaergods Transport Limited to Griffin Wind Farm on the M90.  Photo courtesy of Give Svaergods Transport Limited.