15 June 2010

Following the public inquiry held in January and March, a decision was made to refuse planning permission for Auchencorth wind farm.

The decision letter is available on the Scottish Executive website.

We are disappointed in the result of the public enquiry, but we remain committed to delivering sustainable renewable energy to Scotland. We'll continue to develop plans for onshore wind farms where we think they can make a valuable contribution to meeting renewable energy targets with minimal impact on the local environment.


May 2009

On 8 May we submitted Supplementary Environmental Information (SEI) to Midlothian Council, to support our planning application for a wind farm at Auchencorth Moss, Harlaw Muir Road, Penicuik, Midlothian. The SEI can be viewed alongside the Environmental Statement at Midlothian Council, Penicuik Library or by download from the accompanying page.

If anyone wishes to comment on the SEI, they can do so in writing to:

The Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals
4 The Courtyard
Callendar Business Park
Falkirk.  

The deadline date for comments has been extended, pending a pre-inquiry meeting to be held on 2 July, venue to be confirmed.

February 2009

We are currently preparing some Supplementary Environmental Information in support of our appeal on landscape, hydrology and ecology issues. This will be submitted to the DPEA (Scottish Planning Inspectorate) within the next couple of weeks. A date for the Public Inquiry is expected later in 2009.

August 2008

On 21 August we submitted a planning appeal to Midlothian Council following the refusal of planning permission on 12 February last year.  

Download the Auchencorth Wind Farm Proposal (PDF, 353KB)

Why Auchencorth?

The Auchencorth site was identified following a rigorous site search which identified the most appropriate sites for wind farms in Southern Scotland.

The site layout has been designed to minimise any potential visual impact whilst remaining technically feasible and capable of satisfying all the constraints from various interests.

The Auchencorth wind farm would:

• Provide over 24,000 homes' annual electricity needs, almost 60% of homes within Midlothian
• Save more than 50,850 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year*
• Contribute to the Scottish Executive Renewable Energy Targets (18% by 2010, 40% by 2020)
• Reduce reliance on finite and imported fuel sources
• Deliver an estimated £5m local and regional electrical and civil contracts
• Provide a community fund over the project's 25 year lifetime

Community Engagement

Public exhibitions were held in Penicuik in July 2005 and Howgate and Carlops in September 2005. Details of the proposed wind farm were on display, with E.ON staff on hand to answer any questions and provide further information on the development.

' Based on UK average domestic annual consumption 4725 kWh (source BERR)
* Carbon dioxide figure based on 430g CO₂/kWh for UK 'energy mix'