RENEWABLE energy specialist RES has submitted a Section 36 application to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU) for its 14-turbine Blair Hill Wind Farm proposal.
If approved, the development, located 2.7km north of Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway, is tipped to be capable of generating ‘clean, low-cost’ electricity for the equivalent of over 115,000 homes every year.
As part of the proposal, RES said it is committed to providing a community benefit package worth more than £23 million over the project’s operational lifetime. During the construction, the initiative could also deliver £17 million of inward investment in the form of jobs, employment, and the use of local services, and a further £125 million of economic activity linked to operations and maintenance and through business rates paid to Dumfries and Galloway Council.
RES added that it is holding two drop-in sessions to allow members of the public to view the plans in the submitted form. The sessions will be held on between 3-8pm on Monday 24 March at the County Buildings Hall in Wigtown and Tuesday 25 March at the McMillan Hall in Newton Stewart.
Sarah McArthur, development project manager at RES, said, “We are delighted to have reached this milestone in the Blair Hill Wind Farm project and would like to thank everyone who participated in our public consultations in October 2023 and May 2024. The feedback we received from both the community and statutory consultees has been instrumental in shaping the final design of the wind farm.
“As part of our development plans, we propose to create a signposted, accessible heritage trail that will guide visitors through the site’s historical features, unlocking the rich archaeological heritage for the local community and tourists to the area alike.”
The wind farm planning submission follows the delivery of a community consultation programme with events held in Newton Stewart, Wigtown, and Kirkcowan in October 2023 and May 2024. A Community Liaison Group (CLG) was established between RES and the community, to create a channel of communication between RES, the local community and stakeholders.
