Wednesday September 9th 2026
Scottish Borders Council headquarters
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
The grid capacity in a Borders village is in “dire need of improvement” a councillor has warned while speaking in support of a constituent’s attempt to overturn refusal of a planning bid.
Earlier this year Scottish Borders Council rejected an application for the installation of a solar photo voltaic array and wall mounted battery storage unit at a bungalow cottage in South Liddle Street in Newcastleton.
The application was refused on the grounds that the solar photo voltaic array “would have an adverse visual impact on the building and wider terrace which would fail to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of Newcastleton Conservation Area”.
When members of SBC’s Local Review Body meet next week they will be asked to overturn the decision.
In a submission to the committee, Councillor Annette Smart, who represents the SNP for Hawick and Hermitage, asks members to reconsider the application.
She states: “The local grid capacity in Newcastleton is in dire need of improvement.
“The village regularly suffers from electricity outages, particularly during extreme weather events.
“Having properties in the village using renewable energy with battery storage capacity will help to alleviate the strain on the local grid and this will become increasingly important as more people in the village move to greater electricity use.
“Preventing the increase of renewable energy and its storage will therefore hamper the village’s capacity to be sustainable in the future.
“This will potentially have an impact on the economic viability of the village and may also encourage increasing rural depopulation.”
Tweet Share on Facebook
