Minch Moor wind project

The onshore wind farm proposal is situated in the Elibank and Traquair Forest, situated approximately 3.5 kilometres to the southeast of Innerleithen, near Peebles in the Scottish Borders.

The Minch Moor Wind farm project comprises of 12 turbines with a maximum turbine height of 100 meters, providing enough electricity to meet the equivalent domestic requirements of over 13,000 households.

The planning application was submitted to Scottish Borders Council in April 2003 with a revised scheme submitted in January 2005 for 12 turbines. Supplementary environmental information was then submitted to the Scottish Borders Council in August 2009. Following the Scottish Borders Council rejection of the scheme on the 9 August 2010. Vattenfall submitted an appeal to the decision on 8 November 2010.

During April 2011 the Scottish Government refused the appeal. Vattenfall is disappointed by the Reporter's decision to refuse planning permission for a wind farm at Minch Moor. Vattenfall will examine the reasons for refusal carefully.

Vattenfall has worked closely with community councils and key local interest groups such as the Southern Upland Partnership, Innerleithen Community Trust, the Borders Forest Trust and Tweed Valley Tourist Group.

Some of the important topics flagged up for discussion by communities neighbouring the proposed Minch Moor wind farm are:

• Family friendly cycle tracks to complement the ever popular seven stanes cycle routes of Glentress and Innerleithen
• Development impacts relating to road transport and road safety issues
• Recreation initiatives to create community woodlands and enhance ancient woodlands