Council advised not to oppose renewable energy park
BBCPlans for an energy park near Hawick are expected to move a step closer to approval next week with councillors being advised not to oppose the scheme.
IB vogt UK is seeking consent for the Stirches Renewable Energy Park on land to the north east of the town's substation.
The development would combine up to 30MW of solar power generation with 30MW of battery energy storage, producing enough green electricity to support thousands of homes and businesses.
If councillors back the recommendation, the application will be passed to the Scottish government's energy consents unit for a final decision.
The proposed development would be built on land adjacent to Stirches Mains Farm House and is intended to support Scotland's renewable energy ambitions and net zero target for 2045.
A report due to be considered by the council's planning and building standards committee acknowledges the scheme would have some significant landscape and visual impacts.
Planning officers said the project would introduce a large area of solar panels, battery storage units, a substation and associated infrastructure into existing agricultural fields.
However, they concluded the effects would be largely localised because of the surrounding landscape and topography.
The report noted that where the solar panels were visible they would often be seen within the context of open landscapes, with the Southern Uplands forming a backdrop that would reduce their prominence.
Officers concluded that the renewable energy, economic and environmental benefits of the development outweighed the identified visual impacts and recommended that Scottish Borders Council does not object to the proposals.
