Council Advised to Oppose 12-Turbine Wind Farm Near Iron Age Hillforts

Scottish Borders Council is being advised to object to a 12-turbine wind farm proposed by developer RES near Oxton in the Lammermuir Hills. The project, now called Glenburnie, was reduced from an earlier 19-turbine plan originally named Longcroft. The turbines would stand 220 m (720 ft) tall.

The council's archaeology officer stated that the wind farm would "adversely affect" the sites at Glenburnie, Addinston and Longcroft and the wider historic landscape. A report to councillors said the turbines would "dominate key views" integral to the setting of the three scheduled monuments.

The report concluded that no exceptional circumstances had been shown to justify the impacts and that mitigation measures had not reduced them to tolerable levels.

The same report acknowledged the project's contribution to climate change objectives and emission reduction targets, as well as its net economic effects. It also noted that the revised plans would not result in widespread significant landscape and visual effects.

RES said the project could meet the energy needs of nearly 100,000 homes. The company added that it would generate a community benefit fund of close to £20 m over its operational lifetime and deliver about £10 m in inward investment during construction. The final decision rests with the Scottish government.