*except 5 turbines which have 60m hub/100m tip to improve visual design, as agreed with SNH

Why Afton?

The site is windy and located over 7km from the nearest village of New Cumnock, the majority of the village being visually screened by hills. It lies within one of SNH's 'Low Sensitivity' zones and is adjacent to existing turbines at Windy Standard, just over the border in Dumfries and Galloway.

At Afton we believe we've designed a turbine layout that will minimise visual impact while also remaining feasible and capable of satisfying all the constraints from various competing interests. The Environmental Statement submitted for the scheme details extensive environmental assessment and design work carried out over a period of around 2 years to satisfy Local Plan and Ayrshire Structure Plan policies and respond to the needs of Statutory Consultees assessing the application.

We expect that East Ayrshire Council will confirm its position on the scheme later   in 2007   although the final decision on whether the project would receive Section 36 consent rests with the Scottish Executive.

If built the Afton Wind Farm would:

Provide around 40,000 homes' annual electricity needs (80% of East Ayrshire)

Save over 80,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year

Contribute to the Scottish Executive Renewable Energy Targets (18% by 2010, 40% by 2020)

Reduce reliance on finite and imported energy sources

Deliver an estimated £8m local and regional electrical and civil contracts

Provide a community fund worth over £2m over the project’s 25 year lifetime

Public Consultation

A formal Scoping Exercise was held in early 2004, including liaison with local Community Councils. Public exhibitions were then held in New Cumnock and Carsphairn in August 2004 for the local communities to find out more about the proposal and ask E.ON staff any questions they had about the proposed development. A further public exhibition was held in September 2005 to provide an update on the scheme. We have also established links with the NERV, the New Cumnock Environmental Regeneration Volunteers group.

View the Afton Wind Farm proposal (PDF, 128KB)

Computer animation of proposed wind farm in East Ayrshire

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