Banks Renewables wins council nod for 75-MW Scottish wind farm

Scotland’s East Ayrshire Council has given the green light to Banks Renewables’ application for the 74.8-MW Lethans wind project, the developer said on Monday.

The approval was granted with an unanimous non-objection support by council members. The scheme will now be reviewed by the Scottish Government’s Energy and Consents Department as the proposed project’s capacity surpasses 50 MW.

The Lethans scheme envisages the installation of 22 turbines east of New Cumnock in East Ayrshire, which are expected to produce enough electricity for over 40,000 households.

“We believe that our proposals will directly benefit the local area and deliver a real, lasting, positive impact," said Jeannie Kielty, community relations manager at Banks Group. The project is seen to contribute GBP 37.5 million (USD 48.4m/EUR 41m) to the local economy during its lifespan through local contracts and community initiatives. The developer noted that local firms will be given priority when tendering for contracts under the scheme.

Banks Renewables first submitted a planning application for the Lethans development in March 2015. A year later, it cut the number of turbines from 26 to 22 and submitted a revised proposal with the East Ayrshire Council.

(GBP 1.0 = USD 1.290/EUR 1.092)

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