Wind farm in southern Scotland rejected on basis of visual and landscape impact

A sheme for  a 15-turbine wind farm, opposed by the Scottish Borders Council, has now been blocked. The size of the project meant a final decision lay with the Scottish government, which refused the project after a public inquiry. It has been rejected over concerns about its impact on the "natural beauty" of the area. It was concluded that the benefits of the scheme's contribution to renewable energy targets did not outweigh concerns about its visual and landscape impact. The 132m-high turbines would have been built on land north, south, east and west of Birneyknowe Cottage, two and a half miles south east of Hawick (Scottish Gaelic: Hamhaig) and one mile west of Bonchester Bridge.