The Borders is running out of space for wind farms, according to a report
which forms part of a supplementary guidance (SG) on renewable energy,
roundly welcomed by councillors last Thursday.
The report by environmental consultant Ironside Farrar looked into the
capacity and cumulative impact of the region’s wind energy landscape.
While the consultants found that there are areas in the Borders – namely
upland areas in the north, extreme west and south-west – have the highest
capacity for more windfarms, being able to accommodate “larger scale
turbines in large commercial scale wind farms”, it also adds: “Much of the
rest of the Scottish Borders has limited capacity for smaller scale
developments, ranging from small clusters of turbines to single turbines”.
However, it states: “Significant areas, including much of the wilder, more
distinctive upland areas, prominent hills and scenic or small scale river
valleys and the coastline, have little or no capacity for development and
areas in which current cumulative development limits the capacity for
further development.”
It concludes: “Further development across the Scottish Borders needs
careful consideration if undue levels of landscape change are to be avoided.”
The huge report, put together by the regulatory services team at the
council, which was put to councillors at the full council meeting, will
form part of the development plan for the Scottish Borders, and will help
planning officers and councillors make a decision on future applications.
The report covers all types of renewable energy, and has been sent out to
public consultation.
The responses received by the council formed part of the report handed to
councillors.
One of the objections received came from Jane Bower, from Upper Liddesdale
and Hermitage, who said of the SG: “It would seek to turn this area into a
landscape of wind turbines. This would drive out even more of the people in
an area suffering from depopulation, and discourage even the low level of
tourism which the area currently experiences.”
The council’s response granted that the study did identify the area as
being able to “absorb” more and larger turbines, however, it added: “Such
proposals would be tested by planning applications and cumulative impact
and other potential issues would be addressed at this stage.”
Renewable energy developer Banks Renewables – which successfully developed
and sold a 13-turbine site at Quixmoor near Grantshouse, but so far has
been unsuccseessful in applying for a 15-turbine site at Birneyknowe – also
objected.
Its response stated: “The elements of the draft SG relating to wind farms
are written in a very negative manner. They have not been written in the
spirit of encouraging further onshore wind farm development within the
Scottish Borders, putting it at odds with the suite of documents the
Scottish Government published … which all encourage further onshore wind
farm development to ensure that the targets set by the Climate Change
(Scotland) Act can be meet (sic) at the lowest cost.”
The council replied: “It is strongly disagreed that the text is written in
a negative manner. Banks Renewables’ response completely ignores the need
to strike a balance between supporting renewable energy and given weighting
to protecting the landscape and protecting the environment.”
At the meeting councillor Tom Miers, executive member for planning and
environment, congratulated the officers involved in the report.
He said: “I have no hesitation in recommending to members that we approve
this report.”
Councillor Mark Rowley said: “I have read this report in great detail, and
I can see just how detailed this work has been.
“It’s a brilliant piece of work and it gives us a fresh go-to document for
anyone debating these issues.”
The report was approved unanimously.
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