Scottish wind farm near Wanlockhead scrapped as would have been ‘blot on the landscape’ and ‘damaged wildlife’
2 min readA wind farm project rejected by the Scottish government would have been a “blot on the landscape” and threatened the historic landscape of Wanlockhead.
Developers had scaled back the Lowther scheme near Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway from 42 to 30 turbines.
However, Dumfries and Galloway Council opposed the proposals which were taken to a public inquiry in late 2019.
Prior to the 2019 public inquiry the original developer, Buccleuch, had sold its interest in the scheme to Forsa Energy.
The project was then acquired by BayWa r.e (CORR) as part of its purchase of Forsa Energy’s wind energy portfolio.
‘Unacceptable’
Ministers, have now concluded the wind farm’s impact on the landscape would be “unacceptable” and refused the plans.
They said that while the scheme could help meet renewable energy targets this did not outweigh its “adverse” impact on the area.
The project, they added, would have “significant adverse landscape and visual impacts”.
It would also have a negative impact on the historic landscape of Wanlockhead.
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The decision to scrap the project was welcomed by MP, David Mundell, who represents Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale.
He said it was “clearly the right decision” and in keeping with the views of people in the area.
This was echoed by his son, Oliver Mundell, who is the MSP for Dumfriesshire.
The scheme, he said, would have been a “blot on the landscape” and could have damaged the area’s ecology and wildlife.
Renewable energy
Renewable electricity generation in Scotland hit a new record high in the first quarter of 2020 with 11.6 TWh generated between January and March 2020.
This is up 28 per cent on the same period in 2019, and is enough to power
almost half of Scotland’s total electricity consumption for a year.
Increases in rainfall and wind speed contributed to this.
Compared to the first quarter of 2019, onshore wind generation has increased by 25 per cent; hydro generation has increased by 38 per cent and offshore wind generation increased by 54 per cent.
