Major wind farm to be built in Scottish Borders

A new wind farm will be built in the Borders. Credit: PA

A major wind farm development in the Borders has been given the green light by the Scottish Government.

Cabinet secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Keith Brown has granted planning consent for a new 18-turbine wind farm in Cloich Forest near Peebles.

It will generate up to £6 million in community benefit funding, will power the equivalent of almost 27,000 homes, and will be developed by Cloich Wind Farm LLP.

But the Scottish Government has rejected an appeal against the decision to turn down an eight turbine development at Hag Law, near Romanno Bridge.

Meanwhile, plans for a large-scale wind farm on a prominent site near Chesters, in the rural parish of Southdean eight miles south-east of Hawick, have been formally submitted to Scottish Borders Council.

Global firm Renewable Energy Systems’ Glasgow office is seeking detailed consent for 13 turbines, 11 of them 175 metres high, on land at Highlee Hill owned by the Church Commissioners for England.