News
October 2025 - Steering group formed to help deliver Bloch Wind Farm £27 million community benefit package
RES, a British company with a proud history in Scotland, has joined forces with local Community Councils to form the Bloch Development Group, which will make strategic decisions on how to utilise the community benefit funding from the proposed Bloch Wind Farm, if it is consented and becomes operational. The main remit of the group will be to ensure the community benefit package supports projects and initiatives aligned with the communities’ priorities, as well as monitoring its progress once it is up and running.
The proposed 18-turbine Bloch Wind Farm is located on land adjacent to the existing Solwaybank Wind Farm, near Langholm in Dumfries and Galloway. Capable of providing clean, low-cost renewable electricity for around 91,000 homes every year, Bloch will also provide a vital economic boost, including the creation of skilled, sustainable jobs which help to drive a cleaner and more resilient economy.
Jim Cameron, Senior Development Project Manager at RES said “Our Bloch Wind Farm proposal, if consented, will deliver a community benefit package worth £27 million over its operational lifetime. Here at RES, we take a tailored approach and work directly with the community to understand how our renewable energy projects could support the local area and help to secure long-term economic, social and environmental benefits.
“It is important to us that decisions are community-led so we’re delighted to have formed the Bloch Development Group. The first objective of the group will be to agree what the tailored community benefit package will look like and we’re looking forward to continuing discussions on this, with the group members over the coming months.”
The founding members of the Bloch Development Group are:
- Stephen Muir – Kirkpatrick Fleming and District Community Council
- John Beechey – Langholm, Ewes and Westerkirk Community Council
- Gordon Patterson – Kirtle & Eaglesfield Community Council
- Carol Midwood – Canonbie and District Community Council
- Annette Williamson – Middlebie and Waterbeck Community Council
Stephen Muir, Chair of Bloch Development Group said “We’ve formed the Bloch Development Group to ensure the community benefit from Bloch Wind Farm, if it is consented, is enjoyed by all of our communities. If you’ve got any suggestions for projects or initiatives you would like to see delivered in your local area, from the benefit package, I encourage you to reach out to your Community Council representative who sits on the Bloch Development Group.”
RES submitted a Section 36 application to Scottish Minsters for consent for the proposed Bloch Wind Farm, back in November 2022, which at the time comprised a 21-wind turbine scheme. The size and design of the proposal has since been revised to reduce the number of wind turbines (from 21 to 18), decrease the tip height of three turbines from 230m to 180m, and remove approximately 1,700m of access track.
RES has been playing a pivotal role in providing Scotland with renewable energy since the early 1990s and remains committed to being part of the country’s energy transition and business growth. From its Glasgow office, RES has developed and/or built 22 wind farms in Scotland with a total generation capacity of c.660MW and currently operate over 800MW of wind farms across the country, including Solwaybank Wind Farm near Langholm.
October 2025 - RES backs 27 UHI students with skills for the future
A total of 27 students from the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) have been awarded grants from the Student Development Fund, supported by RES. The fund provides students from a variety of academic backgrounds with grants of up to £1,000 to support their studies and take part in meaningful development opportunities beyond their courses. For more information, please click here.
October 2025 - Additional Information submitted for Bloch Wind Farm
RES has submitted Additional Information to the Scottish Ministers, which includes a reduction in the size of the proposal from 21 wind turbines to 18 wind turbines. Also included in the revised design is the reduction in tip height of three turbines from 230m to 180m and the removal of approximately 1,700m of access track. For more information, please click here.
February 2024 - Local rugby club scores with donation from Bloch wind farm to tackle pitch improvements
RES has donated £4,500 to Langholm Rugby Football Club (RFC). The donation has supported fundraising efforts to deliver vital pitch improvements after they had become waterlogged and unusable during poor weather.
The rugby club, located a short distance from RES’ proposed 126 MW Bloch Wind Farm, had been raising enough funds to carry out drainage works on the pitch. RES’ contribution formed just over 50% of the project’s total cost and allows the pitches, a valuable community resource, to be used year-round for activities such as all-age rugby tournaments, outdoor events, and by the local school for cross country running.
Kenneth Pool, Langholm RFC Chairman commented: “It is in superb condition following groundwork undertaken by Sportsmaster UK to improve drainage and condition of the soil and grass. RES, of course supported the costs of this work, and it has made a huge difference to the pitch and should help the drainage for a number of years to come. This will ensure the pitch is available for matches and training during wet periods, which was not always the case in the past.”
Additionally, RES has gifted £2,000 towards match equipment, training tops and facilities for Langholm Youth Rugby Trust, a dedicated grassroots initiative that was established to generate the ongoing engagement with rugby from youth to senior level.
James Cameron, Development Project Manager at RES, reflected: “We’re really pleased to assist Langholm RFC with a donation towards their pitch improvements and proud that we’re helping to support many more hours of rugby and community activities at the club throughout the year.
“RES wants to be a power for good in communities that neighbour our projects and we’ve been working with the local community to identify what long-term tangible local benefits they would like to see from a wind farm at Bloch. Popular proposals so far have included RES’ unique Local Electricity Discount Scheme, which we’re taking forwards as part of our plans for the site.”
RES submitted a planning application for the 21-turbine Bloch Wind Farm in November 2022, a new proposal located on land adjacent to the existing Solwaybank Wind Farm, near Langholm. If consented, Bloch Wind Farm would be capable of generating enough clean, low-cost electricity to meet the annual demand of around 100,000 homes each year, helping to meet Scotland’s target of achieving 50% of energy consumption from renewable sources by 2030.
February 2024 - RES and UHI partner to empower next generation of students
RES has partnered with the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) to support a minimum of 60 students through their Student Development Fund. For more information, please click here.
October 2023 - Climbing high: RES’ Turbine Apprentices begin first day on the job
RES’ O&M (Operation & Maintenance) apprentices have started their first site placements, 12 months since beginning their turbine technician apprenticeship with RES. For more information, please click here.
November 2022 - Plans submitted for 126MW Bloch Wind Farm
RES has submitted a planning application for its 21-wind turbine Bloch Wind Farm to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit for determination. Located on land adjacent to the existing Solwaybank Wind Farm, Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway, the proposal has an installed capacity of up to 126MW. For more information, please click here.