East Lothian Planning Committee met on Tuesday 3 September and agreed to submit an objection to Scottish Ministers via the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit (ECU) in relation to a proposed windfarm at Newlands Hill.
The application was submitted to the ECU on behalf of Belltown Power UK Wind Ltd, for 17 turbines, battery storage and associated infrastructure and access on land at Newlands Hill approximately 6km southeast of Gifford on the northern edge of the Lammermuir Hills. East Lothian Council is a consultee on the application.
Following a debate, Planning Committee members agreed with council officers’ recommendation and voted unanimously to submit an objection to the proposals.
Whilst the principle of need is established for green energy production and East Lothian Council has declared a Climate Emergency and has strong policy support for renewable energy, it was decided that this particular proposal would have significant adverse impact on landscape, cultural heritage, and biodiversity. It would have significant adverse impact on the historic environment, in particular on Traprain Law hill fort and the wider historic landscape in which it sits, and the stone circles at Johnscleugh. The route identified for abnormal loads was unacceptable due to its impact on prime agricultural land, while other potential routes from the south were either not feasible or would be even more environmentally damaging.
Planning Committee also debated an application for three new homes to be built on agricultural land west of The Stables, Elphinstone, opposite new homes currently being built by Bellway. A previous application had been refused planning permission in April this year. The applicant re-submitted the application for three new homes for herself and her daughters, stating that the landscape had changed and due to the new development, the site could no longer be described as countryside, but was part of the village of Elphinstone. Three letters of objection had been received to the proposal.
Planners had again recommended refusal of the application as the erection of three houses on the application site would be new build housing development in the countryside of East Lothian on land which is not allocated for housing development.
Committee members voted five in favour of granting planning permission and five against. The Chair’s casting vote meant the application was refused permission.
The relevant application numbers are; Newlands Hill, 24/00001/SGC and Elphinstone, 24/00672/P.