Monday October 5th 2026
Area for Leithenwater Energy Hub
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Councillors today objected to a proposed windfarm on a “jewel in the crown” Scottish Borders landscape – despite support from communities on its doorstep hoping for a share in its £17m benefits.
Peebles, Innerleithen and Eddleston community councils have written letters of support for the construction and operation of a wind farm comprising up to 13 turbines each with tips up to a maximum of 200m on land to the north of Glentress Forest in Innerleithen.
The proposal for Leithenwater Wind Energy Hub from Belltown Power UK would generate more than £17 million in community benefits over its 40-year operational lifespan.
But at a meeting of Scottish Borders Council’s Planning and Building Standards Committee on Monday, October 5, members formally objected to the application amid concerns over its impact on the Tweed Valley landscape and potential risk to the area’s Golden Eagle population.
The energy hub is earmarked for a 16.5 kilometers tract of forestry and moorland located on elevated ground above the Tweed Valley on the western edge of the Moorfoot Hills.
The application will now go before Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit for a final decision.
Committee chair Councillor Simon Mountford said: “We recognise that this development would make a significant contribution to renewable and sustainable energy production but it is not a development without any costs. Our landscape is so important that we need to protect it.
“This is a highly sensitive and publicly valued landscape and the Tweed Valley is, by any reckoning, one of the jewel’s in the Scottish Borders crown.
“We’re blessed with stupendous landscapes and great beauty and this is one of the most attractive elements in the Borders and therefore it is up to us to be the good stewards of that and to protect it where possible.”
All but one of the committee endorsed a recommendation to object to the application, with the “odd man out” being Councillor Sandy Scott.
He said: “I think it is a game, set and match this. The access ranger has no response, archaeological officer – no response, flood risk officer – no response, environmental health officer – no objection, roads – no objection in principle.
“Our community councils have already written letters to ECU in support. Nature Scot have not objected. They were very clear that Upper Tweeddale National Scenic Area would not be compromised by Leithenwater.”
Tweet Share on FacebookNews
