14 Sept 2026
Environmental campaigners are calling on Scottish Borders residents to make their voices heard over a controversial windfarm proposal before the deadline of a crucial consultation expires this month.
Despite an objection from Scottish Borders Council (SBC), Irish renewable energy firm E Power was granted permission for Ditcher Law windfarm near Oxton by the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU) in February.
The development includes eight turbines up to 200m tall in the Lammermuir Hills Special Landscape Area.
But in May, SBC successfully sought a judicial review of the decision because E Power had not taken the necessary grid connection into account. The Scottish Government decided in July not to contest the judicial review, effectively quashing the planning consent, so the project cannot go ahead.
However, E Power came back with an ‘indicative’ Grid Appraisal Report to give an idea of how a connection might be made, and the ECU is considering the updated application.
Now the Lauderdale Preservation Group (LPG) is urging anyone concerned about Ditcher Law windfarm to submit objections to the ECU before the consultation deadline of Wednesday 23 September 2026.
The LPG points out that the grid appraisal report does not set out a sufficiently definite grid connection for a development of this scale and fundamental questions remain about how the proposed 52.8MW wind generation would actually connect to the electricity network.
Carfrae resident Ian Foulkes said: “The Grid Appraisal Report does not set out a sufficiently definite grid connection for the scale of the windfarm proposed, nor does it take into account the full environmental and planning consequences of the proposed development.
“Scottish Borders Council has already objected to this proposal and the Scottish Government’s own planning guidance recognises that an objection by a planning authority should lead to a Public Local Inquiry.
“What is particularly concerning now is the attempt to deal with the project's grid connection through an appraisal that repeatedly says the connection is only indicative and may change.
“We are urging all those who value nature and the timeless beauty of this area to submit their objections to Ditcher Law again to the ECU, before the deadline on Wednesday 23 September, specifically raising concerns about the indicative grid connection.”
Under Scottish Planning law, when a Local Authority objects to a windfarm, that then triggers a Public Inquiry. The whole scheme should go to the Division for Planning & Environmental Appeals (DPEA) to be re-examined by a Planning Reporter.
Ditcher Law Wind Farm - ECU reference ECU00004890 - members of the public can submit their objection directly through the Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit portal.
Public comments need to be entered directly into the portal as the Scottish Government’s ECU portal no longer allows supporting documents to be attached, a move that has been described as undermining transparency and public participation.