Government approves 14-turbine wind farm in Lammermuir Hills

The Scottish government has approved plans for a 14-turbine wind farm in the Lammermuir Hills.

The Dunside scheme sits about four miles (6km) north of the village of Westruther.

Scottish Borders Council decided not to oppose the project - near to another development at Fallago Rig - last year as the area had become a "wind farm landscape" and the turbines would not be completely out of keeping with it.

A Scottish government reporter concluded that while there would some "significant impacts" they would largely be "contained and localised".

The original application for the site included 15 turbines but that was reduced to address a number of concerns raised by statutory consultees.

Sarah Dooley, principal project development manager in Scotland at EDF power solutions UK, said they were pleased with the approval.

"We have engaged extensively with local communities and stakeholders across the Scottish Borders for many years on this project," she said.

"The wind farm is expected to generate around 91.8MW of low carbon electricity, enough to power up to 53,000 homes while supporting Scotland's efforts to achieve net zero targets, improve energy security and reduce energy costs for consumers."

She said a community benefit fund would distribute £11.25m to local groups over the lifetime of its operations.