We are listening, say wind farm developers

THE developers behind the Balgray Windfarm are encouraging members of the public to ‘have their say’ on their proposals. And this week they said the project, which has been submitted to the Scottish Government, was amended in response to community feedback with fewer and smaller turbines. If approved, the scheme by Fred. Olsen Renewables would be located six km north-east of Lockerbie and feature six wind turbines up to 200m to tip, and 43MW of battery storage. It would deliver over 80MW of clean, green, electricity, as well as generating a community benefit fund worth over £7 million. The applicants note that their plans have been subject to ‘extensive community consultation’ since early 2024 and that the design has been revised in response to feedback gathered locally, alongside comments from statutory consultees. Furthermore, it would present a range of opportunities for the local area, including a fund worth £216,000 per year (index linked) over the 35 lifespan of the windfarm. Fred. Olsen Renewables say they have committed to working with the communities closest to the windfarm site to identify how they can use these funds to support local initiatives, as well as helping to deliver sustainable long-term projects and address key challenges such as flood prevention. Project manager Nathan Liddell said this week: “I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to participate in our public consultation. I hope that local residents have had the opportunity to view the proposals, speak to the project team and provide their comments. “The feedback that we have received has been very constructive and has helped to inform the final design. I would encourage everyone to review the proposals on our project website, where they can also find information on how to submit their comments directly to the Scottish Government.” The full suite of application documents is available to view at www.balgraywindfarm.co.uk.