Council Advised to Oppose Wind Farm Plans in Lammermuir Hills
Scottish Borders Council (SBC) is being advised to object to a proposed wind farm development in the Lammermuir Hills due to concerns about its impact on an area historically significant for containing three Iron Age hillforts.
Developers RES have proposed the Glenburnie project, which involves constructing 12 turbines near Oxton. Although the scheme has been reduced in scale from its original proposal, SBC’s archaeology officer has expressed concerns that the development would "adversely affect" the sites at Glenburnie, Addinston, and Longcroft, as well as the wider historic landscape context.
While the local authority is being recommended to oppose the wind farm, the ultimate decision will rest with the Scottish government.
Project Background and Changes
The initial proposal, known as the Longcroft wind farm, included 19 turbines. Following a reduction in the number of turbines, the project was renamed Glenburnie to reflect the locations of the remaining turbines.
A report presented to councillors acknowledged the potential positive contributions of the proposal towards climate change objectives and emission reduction targets, as well as its net economic benefits. It also noted that the revised plans would not cause widespread significant landscape and visual effects.
Concerns Over Historic Site Impact
The primary concern for the council centers on the "significant adverse effects" the wind farm would have on the setting of the three Iron Age hillforts. The report highlighted the scale of the turbines, which would reach 220 meters (720 feet) in height, stating that they would:
"dominate key views" which were "integral to the setting of these scheduled monuments and their cultural appreciation".
The report concluded that:
"no exceptional circumstances" had been shown to justify such impacts nor had any mitigation measures "reduced the impacts to tolerable levels".
Developer's Statement on Benefits
RES has stated that the Glenburnie wind farm could supply energy to nearly 100,000 homes. The company also indicated that the project would generate a community benefit fund approaching £20 million over its operational lifetime and would bring approximately £10 million in inward investment during the construction phase.
