Landowners join forces to draw up bid for wind farm near Tweedsmuir

The green energy development, if approved, would be constructed on land a mile south of Lamington and three miles north-east of Abington in South Lanarkshire.

The proposed Grayside wind farm would consist of almost 30 turbines with tip heights of up to 200m, plus a power substation, new access tracks and meteorological mast.

In a new scoping report submitted to Scottish Borders Council planners, it is revealed that the applicant, operating under the name of Grayside Windfarm, is a company set up by two landowners whose families are said to have farmed locally for generations.

A report by Glasgow-based Arcus Consultancy Service on their behalf says: “Over the years, the landowners have been approached by a large number of developers seeking to develop a wind farm on their land.

“The applicants haves decided to develop a wind farm themselves and to set up a company to do so.

“This will enable them to facilitate local development in up to 20% of the development.

“Riversdale Enterprises will be assisting the applicant in the day-to-day management of the development. Personnel at Riversdale have previously worked for a number of wind farm developers prior to becoming an independent consultancy.

“It is expected that the development will consist of up to 27 turbines with a maximum height to blade tip of 200m and a total generating capacity of over 50 megawatts.”

Ahead of a full planning application, the applicant is proposing a series of consultation events to enable the public to learn more about the plans and submit comments.

If agreed after having an environmental impact assessment carried out, it is envisage that the wind farm would be operational for at least 30 years.

It would be immediately north of the Clyde wind farm opened in 2012 and its 2017 extension adding 54 turbines up to 142m tall to the 152 standing 125m tall already there.

It would also be next to the 11-turbine Glenkerie wind farm three miles north-west of Tweedsmuir and a six-turbine extension to it approved by Scottish Government ministers in 2015.