Monday August 10th 2026
Stirches Renewable Energy Park
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Barriers to a major new solar energy park in Hawick were removed today despite concerns over the Scottish Borders landscape being “commercialised”.
IB vogt UK, a leading utility-scale solar developer, is behind plans for Stirches Renewable Energy Park, a development proposed for land north-east of Hawick Substation.
The park will comprise up to 30MW solar generation (PV) and 30MW battery storage import (BESS), generating green energy to power thousands of homes and businesses across Scotland.
Located adjacent to Stirches Mains Farm House, the development will contribute to the Scottish Government’s renewable energy and net-zero targets for 2045.
When members of Scottish Borders Council’s Planning & Building Standards Committee met today they followed a recommendation not to object to the proposals.
But councillors accepted that the attractiveness of the area to visitors would be “diminished”.
The application will now go before the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU) for a final decision.
All members agreed the recommendation but concerns were raised over the safety of the BESS element of the development and visual impact.
Councillor Eric Small, Conservative for Tweeddale West, said: “I’ve got concerns over what the Borders is being asked to accept here.
“We depend on tourists as well and the natural beauty of the landscape is one of things that attracts people to the area and I think we are commercialising the Borders.
“I know we have to reach our net zero targets but not at a cost. I think it’s going to impact on tourism and bringing people to the Borders.”
Committee chair Councillor Simon Mountford also expressed “strong reservations” over its visual impact, saying: “Although the stone dykes are going to be retained the solar panels will be located within those areas bounded by the dykes and the hedgerows. These features will no longer contribute to the landscape character.”
A report, presented to committee members, stated: “It is acknowledged that the proposed development will have some significant landscape and visual effects.
“The proposals would introduce a large area of solar PVs, alongside BESS/ substation units and associated infrastructure to existing agricultural fields.
“The impacts are however considered to be localised given the scale of the proposals, and surrounding landscape and topography.
“It is considered the Solar PVs would create the most significant of the visual impacts from the development, given they are spread over largely undeveloped agricultural fields.
“However, where they are visible, this is often in the context of large and open landscapes, with the Southern Uplands acting as a backdrop, thus diminishing their prominence somewhat and enhancing their potential to be absorbed.”
The report concludes that the development would help meet Scottish Government energy targets and other economic and environmental benefits, and it is considered that “these benefits outweigh the identified significant landscape and visual effects”, adding: “It is recommended therefore that, on balance, Scottish Borders Council do not object to this development.”
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