A community consultation is to step up a gear to help shape what could become one of Scotland's most powerful onshore wind projects.
Representing a major investment, the up to 40-turbine Bodinglee Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire has the potential to generate over 280MW of electricity, equivalent to taking 54,000 cars off the road.
Following early discussions with local community councils, developer Banks Renewables has already scaled back proposals by reducing the boundary to the south east of the site.
It is now using the upcoming online and in-person consultations, starting from 18 July, to further develop its proposals, which it will present back to the community later in the year for further consultation.
Gordon Thomson, head of projects at Banks Renewables, said: “We are listening, we want to hear local views on the design of the project and how it can benefit the local community.
“The scale of this project means that, working in partnership with the communities, we can think big and potentially address hard to tackle issues like fuel poverty, regional unemployment and the wider regeneration of nature.”
The wind farm is set to sit on the south east of Douglas in South Lanarkshire, across both sides of the M74.
If consented, Bodinglee Wind Farm claims to be able to generate approximately £56m over its planned lifetime in community funding.
Banks Renewables also stated that it will renew a commitment to working with local suppliers through the Connect2Renewables initiative. This should result in around £475m going into the Scottish economy during the project’s lifetime, with more than £162m of that in South Lanarkshire.
The consultation events will be held at Rigside Community Hall on 19 July, St Brides Centre in Douglas on 20 July and Roberton Hall on 21 July.
Following on from these events, Bodinglee Wind Farm will go through the design and planning process, with construction targeted to start between 2026 and 2028, subject to planning approvals.
Banks Renewables are aiming to have the wind farm operational by 2029.
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