In November 2022 RES submitted a Section 36 application to Scottish Minsters for consent under the Electricity Act 1989 for the 21-wind turbine Bloch Wind Farm, near Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway.
A statutory consultation period held by the ECU commenced in November 2022 to enable the public, as well as key consultees, to submit formal representations on the planning application. The closing date for representations was 12 January 2023.
In October 2025, RES 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.
A statutory consultation period held by the ECU commenced in October 2025 to enable the public, as well as key consultees, to submit formal representations on the Additional Information. The closing date for representations was 19 December 2025.
The Additional Information and original planning application are available to view below and also on the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit (ECU) planning portal at www.energyconsents.scot (reference ECU00003463).
Additional Information
In October 2025, RES submitted Additional Information (AI) in relation to the Bloch Wind Farm Application. The AI provides detail on the proposed amendments to the layout and design following advice received from Dumfries & Galloway Council’s (“DGC”) external landscape consultants.
Planning application
Pre-application Consultation Report:
Volume 1 - Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) Main Text:
- Chapter 1 Introduction
- Chapter 2 Proposed Development Description
- Chapter 3 Design Evolution and Alternatives
- Chapter 4 Approach to EIA
- Chapter 5 Landscape and Visual Impact
- Chapter 6 Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
- Chapter 7 Ecology
- Chapter 8 Ornithology
- Chapter 9 Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Geology and Soils
- Chapter 10 Traffic & Transport
- Chapter 11 Noise & Vibration
- Chapter 12 Socio Economic, Tourism and Recreation
- Chapter 13 Aviation, Radar and Other Issues
- Chapter 14 Schedule of Mitigation
Volume 2a - EIAR Figures:
- Figure 1.1 – Site Location
- Figure 1.2 – Site Boundary
- Figure 1.3 – Proposed Development
- Figure 2.1a - Indicative Wind Turbine Elevation - 230 m Tip Height
- Figure 2.1b - Indicative Wind Turbine Elevation - 200 m Tip Height
- Figure 2.1c - Indicative Wind Turbine Elevation - 180 m Tip Height
- Figure 2.2a - Typical Wind Turbine Gravity Foundation
- Figure 2.2b - Typical Wind Turbine Piled Foundation
- Figure 2.3 - Typical Crane Hardstand
- Figure 2.4 - Typical Access Track
- Figure 2.5 - Indicative Site Entrance Layout
- Figure 2.6 - Indicative AIL Access Route Upgrades
- Figure 2.7a-d - Typical Track Cross Drainage Details
- Figure 2.8 - Typical Water Crossing
- Figure 2.9a - Indicative Substation Compound Layout
- Figure 2.9b - Indicative Substation Compound Elevations
- Figure 2.10 - Typical Telecommunications Mast
- Figure 2.11a - Indicative Battery Energy Storage System Compound Layout
- Figure 2.11b - Indicative Battery Energy Storage System Compound Elevations
- Figure 2.12 - Typical Cable Trench
- Figure 2.13 - Typical Temporary Construction Compound
- Figure 2.14 - Indicative Borrow Pit General Arrangement
- Figure 2.15 - Typical Batching Plant Layout
- Figure 3.1 – Turbine Layout Evolution
- Figure 3.2 – Combined Constraints and Infrastructure Layout
- Figure 6.1 – Gazetteer Assets
- Figure 6.2 – Heritage Designations and ZTV
- Figure 6.3 – Heritage Viewpoints and ZTV
- Figure 6.4 – VP1 Callisterhall, farmstead 400m NNE of SM4520 Wireline
- Figure 6.5 – VP2 Scots’ Dyke Wireline
- Figure 6.6 – VP3 Kirtlehead Wireline
- Figure 6.7 – VP4 Doe’s Hill Wireline
- Figure 6.8 – VP5 Calfield Wireline
- Figure 6.9 – VP6 Gibb’s Hill Wireline
- Figure 6.10 – VP7 Old Irvine Wireline
- Figure 6.11 – VP8 Callisterhall, cairn 1100m NE of SM4519 Wireline
- Figure 6.12 – VP9 Broomholm Wireline
- Figure 6.13 – VP10 Callisterhall, cairn 2,550m NNE of SM4535 Wireline
- Figure 6.14 – VP11 Bloch Farm Visualisation
- Figure 7.1 – International Designated Nature Conservation Sites Within 20km
- Figure 7.2 – National Designated Nature Conservation Sites Within 5km
- Figure 7.3 – Phase 1 Habitat Map
- Figure 7.4 – NVC Habitat Map
- Figure 7.5 – Bat Survey Locations and Roost Potential
- Figure 7.6 – Fisheries Survey: Sampling Site Sensitivity
- Figure 8.1 – Ornithological Survey Areas and Viewsheds
- Figure 8.2 – Key Breeding Bird Locations, 2021 and 2022
- Figure 8.3 – Pink-Footed Goose Flight Lines
- Figure 8.4 – Other Key Waterfowl Flight Lines
- Figure 8.5 – Hen Harrier Flight Lines
- Figure 8.6 – Goshawk Flight Lines
- Figure 8.7 – Red Kite Flight Lines
- Figure 8.8 – Peregrine Flight Lines
- Figure 8.9 – Merlin Flight Lines
- Figure 8.10 – Curlew Flight Lines
- Figure 8.11 – Lapwing Flight Lines
- Figure 8.12 – Golden Plover and Dunlin Flight Lines
- Figure 8.13 – Herring Gull Flight Lines
- Figure 9.1 – Hydrological Overview
- Figure 9.2 – Flow Accumulation
- Figure 9.3 – Topographic Wetness
- Figure 9.4 – Predominant Soils
- Figure 9.5 – Carbon and Peatland Soils
- Figure 9.6 – Peat Depth Interpolation
- Figure 9.7 – Peat Slide Risk
- Figure 9.8a – Potential GWDTE Dependency
- Figure 9.8b – Actual GWDTE Dependency
- Figure 9.9 – Bedrock Geology
- Figure 9.10 – Superficial Geology
- Figure 9.11 – Slope Angle Map
- Figure 9.12 – Artificial and Natural Drainage Networks
- Figure 10.1 – Study Area
- Figure 10.2 – Traffic Survey Locations
- Figure 10.3 – Accident Locations
- Figure 10.4 – AIL and Construction Vehicle Delivery Routes
- Figure 11.1 – Predicted Noise Footprint
- Figure 11.2 – Cumulative Noise Footprint
- Figure 13.1 – Shadow Flicker Assessment
Volume 2b - Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) Figures and Visualisations:
- Figure 5.1 – Site Location
- Figure 5.2 – Landscape Policy Context
- Figure 5.3 – Landscape Character
- Figure 5.4 – Topography
- Figure 5.5 – ZTV out to 45km – Woodland and Settlements
- Figure 5.6 – ZTV out to 45km – Bare Ground
- Figure 5.7 – ZTV out to 35km – Woodland and Settlements
- Figure 5.8 – Cumulative Developments within 35km
- Figure 5.9 – ZTV Cumulative – Operational and Consented
- Figure 5.10 – ZTV Cumulative – Schemes in Planning including Woodland and Settlements
- Figure 5.11 – Local Landscape Character and Existing Light Pollution
- Figure 5.12 – ZTV Study – 32 Candela Tower Light Visibility
- Figure 5.13 – ZTV Study – 2000 Candela Nacelle Light Visibility
- Figure 5.14 – Viewpoint 1 – High Stenries
- Figure 5.15 – Viewpoint 2 – Minor Road near Barnglieshead
- Figure 5.16 – Viewpoint 3 – Collin Burn
- Figure 5.17 – Viewpoint 4 – Milltown
- Figure 5.18 – Viewpoint 5 – Calfield
- Figure 5.19 – Viewpoint 6 – B6318 north-west of Claygate
- Figure 5.20 – Viewpoint 7 – Langholm Bridge
- Figure 5.21 – Viewpoint 8 – Malcolm Monument, Langholm
- Figure 5.22 – Viewpoint 9 – Longtown
- Figure 5.23 – Viewpoint 10 – Burnswark Hill Fort
- Figure 5.24 – Viewpoint 11 – A7 near Unthank
- Figure 5.25 – Viewpoint 12 – Bowness-on-Solway
- Figure 5.26 – Viewpoint 13 – Caerlaverock Castle
- Figure 5.27 – Viewpoint 14 – Banks, Hadrian’s Wall
- Figure 5.28 – Viewpoint 15 – Kirkpatrick Fleming
- Figure 5.29 – Viewpoint 16 – Gretna Green / Springfield
- Figure 5.30 – Viewpoint 17 – Repentance Tower, Hoddom
Volume 3 - Technical Appendices:
- Table of Contents
- Technical Appendix 2.1 Outline Construction Environmental Management Plan
- Technical Appendix 2.2 - Outline Borrow Pit Management Plan
- Technical Appendix 2.3 – Outline Pollution Prevention Plan
- Technical Appendix 5.1 – LVIA Methodology
- Technical Appendix 5.2 – LVIA Viewpoint Assessment
- Technical Appendix 5.3 – Residential Visual Amenity Assessment
- Technical Appendix 6.1 – Site Gazetteer
- Technical Appendix 6.2 – Cultural Heritage Screening
- Technical Appendix 7.1 – Phase 1 and NVC Habitat Surveys
- Technical Appendix 7.2 – Bat Surveys
- Technical Appendix 7.4 – Fisheries Electrofishing Survey
- Technical Appendix 7.5 – Protected Species Protection Plan
- Technical Appendix 7.6 – Outline Habitat Management Plan
- Technical Appendix 8.1 – Breeding Bird Report 2021
- Technical Appendix 8.2 – Breeding Bird Report 2022
- Technical Appendix 8.3 – Wintering Bird Report 2020-21
- Technical Appendix 8.4 – Wintering Bird Report 2021-22
- Technical Appendix 8.5 – Collision Risk Report
- Technical Appendix 8.6 – Breeding Bird Protection Plan
- Technical Appendix 8.7 – HRA Report
- Technical Appendix 9.1 – Schedule of Watercourse Crossings
- Technical Appendix 9.2 – Peat Management Plan
- Technical Appendix 9.3 – Peat Slide Risk Assessment
- Technical Appendix 9.4 – Private Water Supply Risk Assessment
- Technical Appendix 9.5 – GWDTE Assessment
- Technical Appendix 9.6 – Watercourses Assessment
- Technical Appendix 9.7 – Climate and Carbon Balance Assessment
- Technical Appendix 10.1 – Transport Assessment
- Technical Appendix 10.2 – Route Survey
- Technical Appendix 11.1 – Assessment of Energy Storage Facility
- Technical Appendix 11.2 – Issues Scoped Out of Wind Farm Noise Assessment
- Technical Appendix 11.3 – Calculating Standardised Wind Speed
- Technical Appendix 11.4 – Propagation Height Valley Effect
- Technical Appendix 11.5 - Background Noise Survey Photos
- Technical Appendix 11.6 – Instrumentation Records
- Technical Appendix 11.7 – Charts
- Technical Appendix 11.8 – Suggested Planning Condition Noise
- Technical Appendix 12.1 – Socioeconomic Strategic Context
- Technical Appendix 13.1 – Reduced Lighting Scheme