SCOTTISH Borders councillors are being advised not to oppose go-ahead for what would be the region’s largest single wind farm.
When members of the council’s Planning & Building Standards Committee meet on Monday, March 3, they will consider an application for a 52 turbine windfarm on land east of Priesthaugh in Hawick.
The developer, Muirhall Energy, has made "significant changes" to project plans for its proposed Teviot Wind Farm, reducing the turbine numbers from the original 63.
These changes should result in reduced visibility of the project, and the company has also removed proposals for a solar array.
The development would make a substantial contribution towards the legally binding net zero energy targets while also providing a large onsite battery facility to store surplus energy generated on site for deployment by the grid when required.
During its 40-year operational period, it is anticipated that the development will generate £8.8 million GVA annually and will provide up to 16 jobs in the local area with 29 within the Scottish Borders.
SBC is a consultee over the proposals with the final say coming from Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit.
Concerns have been raised that the development would compromise Hermitage Castle, one of the finest examples of a medieval castle in Scotland, and other monuments of national importance – the Tinlee Standing Stone, a 1.35-metre high pre-historic stone, and the Catrail Earthworks.
But despite concerns remaining over the visual impact of the development, councillors will be recommended not to object to it when they meet next week.
A report to the committee sates: “The revised proposal has removed some turbines from the northern parts of the site. These turbines were generally sited at a lower ground level.
“Their deletion helps to push the development back into higher ground. The landscape architect remains concerned that a development of this scale cannot be accommodated without detrimental effects on the character of the landscape and especially diminish the character of the cone shaped hills such as Skelfhill Pen, Penchrise Pen and to a lesser extent, Maiden Paps, by virtue of surrounding or engulfing them with turbines.
“The revisions that have been undertaken do reduce the scale and extent of the development which in turn reduces some of its impacts on the historic landscape and improves the appreciation of its setting.
“Project design has sought to mitigate these affects, leading to the removal of 10 turbines as well as the solar array from the proposed development. This has significantly reduced the overall scale and extent of the proposed wind farm and has also alleviated landscape and visual effects posed by some prominent turbines from certain viewpoints.
“It is recommended that, on balance, Scottish Borders Council do not object to the proposed development.”
