29 Jan 2025
The second day of the Greystone Knowe public inquiry took place today. The morning focused on finalising the session from the day before on the landscape and visual impacts of the proposed wind farm, with the afternoon then moving on to the energy and planning policy hearing session.
A summary of some of the arguments debated at the landscape and visual inquiry session can be read here.
During the energy and planning policy session, Dr Christopher Ford gave evidence on behalf of Scottish Borders Council. He explored some of the major changes taking place in energy market regulation and changes to UK government policy.
He also stressed that Scotland is already set to comfortably achieve the Scottish government’s 20GW ambition by 2030. Note it was added by other parties that if consented Greystone Knowe’s earliest grid connection would be 2031 – therefore this project would not contribute to any national renewable targets.
In his written submission Dr Ford stated: “The Proposal, for a potential Greystone Knowe wind farm, is not only one of many wind energy developments being proposed in Scotland, it is one of many thousands of renewable developments being put forward across the UK. In the last few years, the picture of renewable energy developments has fundamentally changed. A decade ago, there was a desperate need for renewable energy developments to be proposed. It was important that almost any proposal got a green light, to accelerate the country’s delivery of net zero. Today, with more than three times the capacity being proposed than the UK needs for net zero and more coming forward every day, it is clear we have the capacity to get to net zero. Thus, the emphasis within decision making on individual proposals can now change. Decision making, both within Scotland and across the UK, can be highly selective. Consent need be awarded only to proposals which have the least overall or no adverse environmental effects and to developments which will result in least cost to consumers. On both of those criteria, this Proposal is not justified.”
This sentiment was echoed by Heriot Community Council, with John Williams in his written submission which stated “there is NO present need, because foreseeable need is already planned.”
Dr Forde explained that the UK Government is considering market reforms to deliver a low-cost electricity system. He said: “Set against UK energy policy there is now no need for the Proposal. There are ample energy developments taking place elsewhere which would result in lower energy costs to UK consumers. This suggests that the Proposal does not ‘maximise net economic impact’.”
“Not only is the Scottish Government’s target met, the rest of the UK currently has ample supplies of renewable energy schemes coming forward. On the basis of Scottish planning and energy policies alone, however, the balance of the need and the potential effects shows that this Proposal is not justified. Given the landscape and visual impacts which would arise from the proposed development, the Proposal should be refused consent.”
John Williams’ written submission also stated: “In the case of Greystone Knowe, it is clear that the requisite for good site selection has been almost completely ignored. In short, Heriot Community Council regrets today that this application is an opportunist application, born out of joint landowners’ agreement, to the significant detriment of their immediate neighbours.”
“It follows that the proposal is not in accordance with the applicable Planning policies and guidance for consideration of a new large scale, dominating wind farm in the Heriot area. There are no countervailing benefits for this community, local land managers and landowners, such as would suggest in any way that this is an appropriate location for this development in this location.”
Policy 11 of NPF4 which seeks to “…encourage, promote and facilitate all forms of renewable energy development onshore and offshore” was also debated.
John Williams’ submission explained it is a framework within which significant informed professional and other judgments about likely impacts must be made. He said: “Despite the ‘in principle’ support given to renewable energy developments, the Policy makes it clear in part (e) that there are a significant number of other factors to be considered and weighed in the assessment of proposed developments.
“The framework is clear; it provides that significant weight is to be given to both the global climate emergency and the nature crisis, and to the contribution that a proposal may make to renewable energy generation targets and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. And in that connection, Heriot Community Council points to the reality of actual need, not the fantasy land where more at any price is enough to satisfy the policymakers.
He added: “…it remains open to the decision maker to decide that negative impacts may outweigh the benefits of increasing the supply of renewable energy generated by wind. Put another way, yet more wind generation capacity with unquantified yields does not necessarily trump locally adverse consequences.”
To that effect, Dr Forde said: “Even taking account of NPF4 Policy 11’s presumption in favour of awarding consent to renewable energy developments and seeing aside landscape, visual impact and other adverse environmental effects, the findings here show that the effects of the Proposal are such that these effects should not be set aside.”
Today’s session can be viewed here: https://dpea.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/949601
The written submissions can be sourced via the ‘Core Document’ list here: https://www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/CaseDetails.aspx?id=124934&T=73
Next up is the community hearing which will be taking place this evening from 7-9pm.
Tomorrow will consist of:
Thursday 30 January 9.30 – 13.00 Conditions Hearing Session
Thursday 30 January 14.00 – 17.00 Noise Inquiry Session