Wednesday August 6th 2025
Scottish Borders Council headquarters
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Scottish Borders Council has decided against making any comment or to raise any objections to a proposed new wind farm close to its doorstep.
The local authority was consulted over plans for the Hagshaw Hill 111 Wind Farm in neighbouring South Lanarkshire.
The proposed development is for up to eight wind turbines with a maximum blade tip height of 200 metres.
It was 30 years ago that the original Hagshaw Hill site became Scotland’s first commercial wind farm.
Turbines were later replaced and the site is being “re-powered” for continued use.
In response to the latest application, SBC principal planning officer Scott Shearer has written to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit, which has the ultimate say on whether the development goes ahead, saying: “Thank you for consulting Scottish Borders Council (SBC) on the development.
“We have considered the information which has been provided and on the basis that at its nearest point that the proposal is located over 11km outwith the Scottish Borders with the area identified for the turbine located at a greater distance, I can confirm that SBC do not wish to raise any comment.
“In addition, given the separation of the development from the Scottish Borders, we are content that the development would unlikely impact on matters concerning our administrative area.
“Therefore, we are satisfied that we would not be required to be consulted should this proposal progress to a Section 36 application.”
A Section 36 application is a formal request for consent to construct, extend, or operate an electricity generating station, typically with a capacity exceeding 50 megawatts (MW), under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.
These applications are submitted to the Energy Consents Unit for determination.
Meanwhile, re-powering is gathering pace across Scotland as other wind turbines reach the end of an expected working life of 25 years, extended for some up to 30 years.
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