by DOUG COLLIE
The planning authority in the Scottish Borders has been granted a seventh time extension as it attempts to reach a decision on a proposed £417 million wind farm project involving 53 turbines in Teviotdale.
It means the original deadline of October 9th 2022 by which time Scottish Borders Council was supposed to declare its support for or opposition to the Teviot wind farm, south of Hawick will now be set for March 5th 2025.
The latest extension has been approved by the Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit [ECU] following an agreement reached between the local authority and developers Muirhall Energy.
In a message to the ECU asking for yet another additional period to deal with Muirhall's application, Borders planning officer Scott Shearer wrote: "This is a highly important scheme for the Scottish Borders, however the additional processing time will ensure the development is fully considered by the Planning Authority, allows for any response by the applicants and sufficient lead in to complete a Report of Handling for our planning committee."
Should the members of the planning committee vote to reject the application then a public inquiry would be held leading to a decision by Scottish Ministers.
Meanwhile, in his consultation response, council ecology officer Malcolm Ginns raises concerns over potential damage to peatland, and the impact the scheme might have on red squirrels.
According to his written submission: "The AEI (Additional Environmental Information) report acknowledges that the residual impacts on the habitat assemblage will remain significant. Given that Scottish Government have declared a Climate and a Nature Crisis, it is my opinion that more ought to be done to avoid impacts on peatland from the outset rather than relying on mitigation and compensation".
Proposed turbines 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 30, 41, 42 and 43 as well as associated tracks are located on bog habitats which are in sensitivity class 1 or 2. Some areas of these habitats and the underlying peat are either heavily modified or actively degrading.
In the ecology officer's view: "The majority of the hard standings for turbines 24 25 and 41 are proposed on class 1 peat. Ideally these turbines would be (re)moved from this nationally important habitat.
"Class 1 peat is nationally important, in my opinion the fact that the hardstanding would only impact comparatively small areas and impacts would “only” be of regional, not national importance is secondary as the piecemeal destruction of important habitats still has a significant cumulative effect over time, which ought to be avoided."
Due to the very large scale of the current proposal, the project would remain viable if the design was further adjusted to protect more peatland, the report adds.
In a section of the submission headed Red Squirrels, the submission warns that 15 sightings of the species were recorded on the wind farm site: in the Northhouse forest between Goat Hill and the Southdean Burn.
"The sighting location is within the area marked for infrastructure felling and the wider, immediately adjacent forest area is proposed for felling between 2024-28.
"I am concerned about the impacts of this on Red Squirrels due to the potential of them becoming isolated in this area.
"Therefore, I would like to see some early compensatory planting being provided for the benefit of red squirrels at Goat Hill. This should be before the site is operational or at least before the felling phase for this area ends in 2028."
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