Belltown Power disappointed by Scottish Borders Council objection to Leithenwater Wind Energy Hub
Belltown Power, the developer of the proposed Leithenwater Wind Energy Hub near Peebles, has expressed its disappointment after Scottish Borders Council’s Planning Committee voted to ‘object’ to the development.
However, the Section 36 proposal – which was submitted to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU) in April 2024 – will ultimately be determined by Scottish Ministers.
Belltown believes Leithenwater represents a significant opportunity to generate renewable electricity while delivering substantial long-term benefits for communities and the wider Scottish Borders economy.
While the company recognises the Committee’s role in considering the proposal, Belltown does not agree with a number of the conclusions reached in relation to the project’s environmental impacts. The company is confident that the evidence submitted demonstrates that Leithenwater can be developed responsibly and without unacceptable environmental impacts.
Evidence on landscape and nature conservation
The proposed development has been carefully designed having regard to Scottish Borders Council’s planning policies and Renewable Energy Supplementary Planning Guidance. The site was identified within the Council’s own guidance as having potential capacity for wind development with turbine tip heights above 120 metres, and is sited outwith areas already developed for wind energy and local Special Landscape Areas.
Belltown also notes that NatureScot, Scotland’s national nature agency, did not object to the proposal on landscape and visual grounds, concluding that the Upper Tweeddale National Scenic Area would not be compromised by the development.
The company is similarly reassured by NatureScot’s assessment of the potential impact on golden eagles. Following detailed engagement with NatureScot and the Rural Upland Nature project (formerly South of Scotland Golden Eagle project), including consideration of available satellite-tag data, NatureScot concluded that golden eagles were unlikely to be significantly affected by the proposed development and did not object.
Belltown believes that these conclusions from expert bodies, alongside the extensive environmental assessment it has already undertaken, provide strong evidence that the potential environmental impacts of Leithenwater can be appropriately managed.
Significant community and economic benefits
Leithenwater would deliver a substantial long-term financial contribution to local communities.
Belltown has committed to a Community Benefit Fund of £5,000 per installed megawatt per year, index linked. Based on the current proposal, this could provide around £400,000 every year for 40 years. In addition, Belltown has offered 1% community ownership at no cost, with a further 4% available at cost.
The company estimates that, using data from Biggar Economics [see notes], combined with the Community Benefit Fund, the proposed package could generate benefits worth around £7,000 per megawatt each year for local communities.
Questions were also raised at Committee about the evidence supporting the wider economic benefits associated with wind farm development but recent independent analysis of the GVA impact of a nearby windfarm provides compelling evidence of the benefits wind farms can generate [see notes].
Grid connection
Concerns were also raised at Committee about the potential visual impact of pylons associated with the project’s future grid connection. Belltown can confirm that pylons are not proposed as part of the Leithenwater grid connection. The current approach is for the connection to comprise a combination of underground cabling and wood poles.
The detailed grid connection will in any case, be subject to its own separate planning and environmental assessment process by the relevant grid operator. Belltown has undertaken an assessment based on the information available and concluded that the grid connection is not likely to result in further significant cumulative effects in combination with the wind farm. This approach is in line with other wind farms that have recently received planning permission.
‘A missed opportunity’
Ben Thorne, Development Manager at Belltown Power, said:
“We are naturally disappointed by the Planning Committee’s decision, particularly given the significant work that has gone into developing Leithenwater, the support we have received from the local Community Councils and the extensive environmental assessment undertaken.
“We have listened carefully to the concerns raised. However, we are confident that the evidence supporting Leithenwater demonstrates that the project can be developed responsibly and that some of the conclusions reached today do not reflect the evidence available to the Committee.
“We will continue to engage constructively with Scottish Borders Council, the Scottish Government and local communities as the consenting process continues, and remain confident in the merits of Leithenwater.”
NOTES
- BiGGAR Economics published an analysis last month of the nearby Crystal Rig IV wind farm, based on actual project expenditure, providing a recent example of the economic activity that wind farm construction can generate in the Scottish Borders. BiGGAR Economics