Sunday August 20th 2023
Wauchope Forest.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Communities are being invited to have their say in the coming weeks on plans for a major 80-turbine Borders windfarm.
The farm would be spread across two commercial forestry areas in Liddesdale – Wauchope Forest east and west and Newcastleton Forest.
The energy company behind the scheme say it could power up to 231,000 homes.
EDF Renewables UK also say it could bring hundreds of thousands of pounds in community funding to the area.
The company submitted a scoping report to Scottish ministers through the Energy Consents Unit in late June.
But with detailed environmental studies having been underway on site for a number of months, EDF is to present an early-stage proposal for Liddesdale wind farm to the local community.
Community events are to be staged on Wednesday, August 30th, from 2pm to 7pm at Newcastleton Village Hall, Langholm Street; on Thursday, August 31, 2pm to 7pm at Southdean Village Hall in Hawick and on Tuesday, September 5, 5pm to 8pm at Kielder Primary School, Butteryhaugh in Hexham.
Andrew Bennett, development project manager at EDF, said: “The submission of the scoping report to Scottish Borders Council is an important initial milestone for the project – allowing us to begin robust and detailed conversations with the local community on our proposal.
“There will be multiple opportunities for the community to view, comment and provide feedback on the proposals as they develop.
“With detailed environmental studies having been underway on site for a number of months, we are pleased to present an early-stage proposal for Liddesdale wind farm to the local community.
“These exhibition events will provide information on our approach to the project, and how we intend to develop Liddesdale wind farm in step with local communities and the surrounding natural environment while enabling Scotland to meet its net zero targets to combat climate change.”
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