Updated Lanarkshire wind farm plans to go on show at public exhibitions

Updated plans for a proposed new wind farm in South Lanarkshire are set to go on show at the end of the month at four public exhibitions.

Hamilton-based Banks Renewables, part of The Banks Group, commenced a dialogue with local people around their outline plans for the Kype Muir scheme at the end of 2009.

Having conducted a wide-ranging consultation exercise over the intervening period, it is now set to put forward revised proposals for further public comment before they are submitted to South Lanarkshire Council and the Scottish Government for planning approval.

The proposed site for the Kype Muir scheme, which sits in a designated search area for renewable energy schemes, is comprised of commercial forestry and grazing land over 3kms south of Strathaven and more than 7km west of Lesmahagow.

After completing a range of site assessments and conducting a review of different design options, Banks is now proposing to build a wind farm which includes 26 turbines with a maximum tip height of 132m.

These new proposals will be on show between 3pm and 7pm at each of the following public exhibitions:

• Tuesday 29^th March – Stonehouse Public Institute
• Wednesday 30^th March – Lesmahagow Jubilee Hall
• Thursday 31st March –  Sandford Hall,Strathaven Road, Sandford
• Tuesday 5^th April – Gilmourton Hall, Gilmourton
• Wednesday 6^th April – Strathaven Hotel, Strathaven

 
Representatives of Banks Renewables will be on hand to answer any questions visitors have about the scheme and to gather further feedback from them.

Exhibition visitors will also be able to make suggestions about the sorts of new local facilities that could be funded through the dedicated community benefits scheme that would be introduced if the scheme is approved.

Around 200 jobs would be expected to be created through the construction of the Kype Muir project, with Banks looking to utilise the Scottish construction industry’s renewables expertise to complete this work.

Colin Anderson, director at Banks Renewables, says: “We have undertaken a comprehensive site assessment and review process over the last 18 months, and the updated plans that we are presenting highlight what we feel is a well thought-out scheme that will both generate significant amounts of renewable energy and help provide a positive, long-term legacy for the surrounding area.

“We’re very keen to hear ideas from local people about how they might like to see the scheme, should it be approved, provide support and funding for local groups and initiatives, in order to help ensure that our presence in the area has a tangible positive long-term impact on the local community.

“We’ve gathered a range of opinions from local people about our proposals during the consultation process, and hope that the levels of interest shown by them will be reflected in the number of visitors attending our forthcoming exhibitions.”

A planning application is expected to be submitted during April 2011.

Anyone who is unable to attend the exhibitions, but who would either like more information on the Kype Muir Wood proposals or to express an opinion about them,  should contact Banks Renewables’ community engagement coordinator Siobhan Samson on 0191 3786100 or via kypemuir@banksgroup.co.uk