Energiekontor UK Ltd had applied to construct eight turbines at a site near Heriot, south of Edinburgh, but plans were refused by the Tory-run Borders Council.
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The application was first submitted in December 2022, before the local authority threw it out in July last year – despite officials recommending that the local authority’s Planning and Building Standards Committee approve the plans.
Energiekontor UK appealed the decision, which went to a Scottish Government reporter, appointed by SNP ministers, for a ruling.
In a statement, Government reporter David Buylla has now said that the construction can go ahead subject to 27 conditions. These include:
- That it cannot stand for more than 35 years “from the date of commissioning of the final turbine erected on the site or the two year anniversary of the date of commissioning of the first turbine, whichever is the sooner”.
- That development must begin before January 14, 2030.
- All wind turbine blades shall rotate in the same direction and be no more than the stated 149.9 metres high – meaning that because “the blade tip height would be less than 150m, civil aviation warning lights would not be required”.
- That public access, wildlife habitat, and ecological monitoring plans must be submitted before construction begins.
- Construction work “shall only take place on the site between the hours of 07.00 to 19.00 on Monday to Friday inclusive and 08.00 to 13.00 on Saturdays, with no construction work taking place on a Sunday or on national public holidays or bank holidays”.
- Contractors within the Scottish Borders will be favoured for work.
Energiekontor UK’s website says the site will have a capacity of 36MW, and that a predicted community benefit fund is yet to be agreed.