South Lanarkshire wind farm gains planning consent

Energy company Eon has welcomed the news that it has received planning consent for its 30MW Dungavel wind farm in South Lanarkshire.

The proposed wind farm, which was approved by South Lanarkshire Council, will be located on land at Dungavel Hill, south of Strathaven. The scheme will also bring contract opportunities to local employers in the region.

The site will have 13 turbines and be capable of producing up to 29.9MW, or enough power for around 20,000 homes.

Ahmed Mulla, Eon's project developer for Dungavel, said: "This is excellent news for us and another step towards helping Scotland meet its renewable energy targets."

"We're especially pleased the planning report recognised the benefits this project will bring to the local community and beyond."

"We're looking forward to working with local stakeholders to get the wind farm up and running and providing renewable energy which could displace 40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year."

During the construction phase there are expected to be between 50 and 60 contractors working on site.

Over the life of the wind farm Eon's Community Fund will provide a minimum of £60,000 per year to South Lanarkshire Council's renewable energy fund.

The application received 626 letters of support from the public.

The site will also contribute considerably to the Scottish Government's renewable energy targets of 31% by 2011 and 50% by 2020.