Government rejects plans for huge wind turbines in Southern Uplands
February 5, 2026
Government rejects plans for huge wind turbines in Southern Uplands
Community WindpowerThe Scottish government has rejected plans for a large-scale wind farm in the Southern Uplands.
Community Windpower wanted to build 60 turbines up to 250m (820ft) tall at Scoop Hill, a few miles south east of Moffat.
Dumfries and Galloway Council objected to the scheme on the grounds of its visual and landscape impact.
Now the Scottish government has concluded it is “not the right development in the right place” and refused permission for it to go ahead.
Plans for the development were submitted in 2020, originally with 75 turbines. It was estimated they could have met the energy needs of 500,000 homes.
Three years later it was scaled back by 20% following concerns about its impact on cultural heritage, dark skies and golden eagles in the area.
Nonetheless, the local authority lodged an objection to the development in 2024 – a move that went against the advice given by planning officers.
Due to the scale of the project, the ultimate decision on its fate lay with the Scottish government.
A report said it recognised that the scheme would “create net economic benefits, and deliver renewable energy benefits”.
However, it said those would not outweigh “significant and widespread adverse landscape and visual effects”.
Concerns were also raised about the impact on the Eskdalemuir Seismological Recording Station which plays a key part in a worldwide treaty to monitor nuclear arms testing.
‘Unwanted application’
Developers said their scaled-back plans could still meet the electricity needs of 450,000 homes.
They said it would create hundreds of jobs during construction and bring in tens of millions of pounds of local investment.
They added that the design of the scheme had been shaped by consultation with the local community.
MP David Mundell said the refusal would be a “massive relief” to people in the area.
He said the “sheer scale” of the project would have meant it was visible from Moffat, Beattock, Lockerbie and Lochmaben and many smaller villages.
“My congratulations go to everyone involved in objecting to this proposal and who took part in the planning inquiry,” he said.
“It does go to show that when a community stands together against an unwanted application like this, it really can make a difference.”
Search
RECENT PRESS RELEASES
Related Post
