Blackwood Wind Farm

Site Location

The site for Blackwood Wind Farm comprises two separate parcels of grassland, predominantly used for grazing cattle and sheep. Total site area is approximately 313 hectares, as indicated by the red line boundaries.

The site to the west, between Redree Burn and Burnt Hill, covers approximately 69 hectares. To the east, the site between Burnton, Waistland and the Garepool Burn covers approximately 243 hectares.

There is a small non-native conifer plantation on site, as well as a patch of native deciduous woodland along the banks of the Elder Burn.

Site location plan

Development Proposals

Blackwood Wind Farm is proposed to comprise:

• Five turbines with a total generating capacity of around 24MW and a height to the blade tip of up to 149.9 metres. This is a reduction from the seven turbines of up to 180 metres displayed at the first public consultation event, with the two turbines nearest the town dropped, and follows public feedback and other studies and technical assessments.
• Battery storage facility with a capacity of up to 100MW. This will store excess renewable energy during periods of low demand and/or peak generation. Energy will then be released into the electricity grid when required, improving local grid stability and reducing the risk of blackouts.
• Ancillary infrastructure including access tracks, underground cabling, inverters, transformers, storage containers, substations, temporary construction compound, borrow pits, security fencing and CCTV.
• A habitat management plan to deliver increased nature biodiversity on the site itself.

The site for Blackwood Wind Farm has been specifically selected due to the following reasons:

• Suitable road access
• Distance to environmentally designated areas
• The opportunity to benefit local communities.
• Reliable and proven wind resource.
• The existence of operational and consented wind farms in the area.

Site layout

Section 36 application

As the total generating capacity of the Blackwood Wind Farm project exceeds 50MW, an application for consent will be made to the Scottish Ministers – via the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU) – for determination under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

The proposed development will be subject to a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the scope of which has been agreed with the Energy Consents Unit (ECU) through the formal EIA scoping process. The EIA is an extensive process which identifies the potential environmental effects of the development and then seeks to avoid, reduce, or offset adverse effects through design or mitigation measures where possible. 

To undertake the EIA, we are carrying out a wide range of technical and environmental studies and surveys. The areas these cover, include:

• Landscape and visual
• Archaeology and cultural heritage
• Ecology
• Ornithology
• Geology, hydrology and hydrogeology
• Traffic and transportation
• Noise and vibration
• Aviation, radar and telecommunications

Our application for consent will be supported by a comprehensive EIA report, which will outline the findings of the site studies.

Tackling climate change

Greater Energy Security and Lowering Energy Bills

International events, such as the war in Ukraine, have focused people’s minds on the risks of overreliance on imported fossil fuels, with the rising cost of gas driving the huge increase in energy bills, a key cause of the cost-of-living crisis.

The growth of secure homegrown renewable energy will help to deliver greater energy security, insulating Scotland and the rest of the UK from future price shocks.

With onshore wind being one of the cheapest sources of new electricity generation in the UK, it has the potential to deliver lower, more stable energy bills for consumers.

Signing the MoU. L to R – Colin Davie from Blackwood Wind Farm Ltd; John Hunter, New Cumnock Development Trust; and Willie Nairn, New Cumnock Community Council.

A proposed community benefit fund will support local projects, such as a new playground.

Consultation

At Qair, we recognise that a fundamental part of good project development is early, meaningful and effective Pre-Application Consultation (PAC). 

This aims to ensure that the local community and key stakeholders, such as the community council, are given the opportunity to provide feedback on Blackwood Wind Farm and are kept informed of the proposals and development process in advance of the submission of a Section 36 application to the Scottish Ministers.

PAC helps to identify issues and concerns, as well as benefits and opportunities, which we can then consider when developing and refining the project.

As part of this PAC process, two public consultation events were held, with the first taking place in June 2025 and second in December 2025, both at New Cumnock Town Hall. These gave the the public the opportunity to learn more about the project, discuss this with the project team, and provide feedback, helping to further shape Blackwood Wind Farm.

Please note that comments made at this stage are not representations to the Scottish Ministers. If Blackwood Wind Farm Ltd submits an application, there will be an opportunity to make representations to the Scottish Ministers on that application.

A PAC report, accompanying the application, will outline what consultation has been undertaken on the proposed development, and highlight how any feedback received from the local community and key stakeholders was taken account of.

Next Steps

It is currently intended to submit the Section 36 application for Blackwood Wind Farm to the Scottish Ministers in May 2026.

The application will be accompanied by a variety of documents, including the EIA report, a planning statement, design and access statement, socio-economic statement and a PAC report.

Indicative Timeline