Planning Submission

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.

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. 

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).

In addition, a hard copy of this documentation is available for public viewing at the following location:

• Langholm Town Hall, Market Place, High St, Langholm DG13 0JQ (Monday - 9am to 12pm & 12:30pm to 4pm, Thursday - 9am to 12pm & 12:30pm to 4pm, Friday - 10am to 12pm & 12:30pm to 4pm)

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.

Any new representations on the proposal following submission of the Additional Information, may be submitted by email to the Scottish Government via representations@gov.scot; or by post to the Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU, identifying the proposal and specifying the grounds for representation.

Written or emailed representations should be dated, clearly stating the name (in block capitals) and full postal address of those making representations. Emailed representations should also include the full return email address of those making representations. Only representations sent by email to representations@gov.scot will receive acknowledgement.

All new representations should be received not later than 10 November 2025, although Ministers may consider representations received after this date.

Additional Information - October 2025

• Additional Information covering letter
• Appendix 2: Figure 1.3a - Proposed Development
• Appendix 3: Landscape and Visual Technical Note

Planning Application - November 2022

Public Notice

Planning Statement:

• Bloch Wind Farm - Planning Statement
• Figure 1 - Site Location - Planning Statement
• Figure 2 - Proposed Development - Planning Statement

Pre-application Consultation Report

• Pre-application Consultation Report with Appendices A to D
• Pre-application Consultation Report Appendices E to G

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

Volume 4 - Non-Technical Summary

Reasons to Support Bloch Wind Farm

Low-cost electricity

Onshore wind, alongside other renewable technologies, is the cheapest form of electricity generation. It is also a mature technology which can be deployed quickly and delivered at lower costs than offshore wind, hydro, marine technologies, and nuclear.

If consented, the Bloch Wind Farm scheme will generate enough clean renewable low-cost electricity for approximately 91,000¹ homes. With the rising cost of living and current energy crisis, it is imperative that we deliver electricity efficiently and at lowest cost to the consumer.

Energy Security

Wind energy is a free and inexhaustible resource which has an important role to play as part of a balanced energy mix. It increases energy security by reducing our reliance on imports and is not subject to sudden price fluctuations or the uncertainty of global markets.

Tackling climate change

A climate emergency was declared by the UK Government and the Scottish Government in 2019. The UK Government has set a legally binding target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 and the Scottish Government has a net zero target of 2045. Renewables, and specifically onshore wind, will play an important role in helping achieve these targets.

To support net zero delivery across all sectors, including heat, transport and industrial processes, which are currently heavily reliant on fossil fuels, it is expected that there will be a substantial increase in demand for electricity in the coming decades. National Grid’s Future Energy Scenarios² forecast that Scotland’s peak demand for electricity will at least double within the next twenty years. This will require a substantial increase in installed capacity across all renewable technologies, including onshore wind.

Scotland currently has around 9.3GW of installed onshore wind capacity. The Scottish Government has set a target of 20GW of onshore wind by 2030 in order to help meet their legally-binding net zero targets. This is a substantial increase and will require significant deployment of new onshore wind projects in order to meet this extra demand for green, zero-carbon electricity.

Socio-economic benefits

Bloch Wind Farm is predicted to deliver:

• an estimated total capital expenditure (CAPEX) of up to £94.5 million, and that Dumfries and Galloway could secure contracts worth £8.5 million, the South of Scotland could secure contracts worth £10.2 million in spending and Scotland as a whole £30.6 million in contracts.
• An estimated 76 job years in Dumfries and Galloway, 93 job years in the South of Scotland and 391 job years in Scotland during construction.
• Boost the local economy by approximately £5.9 million gross value added (GVA), the South of Scotland economy by approximately £6.8 million GVA and the economy of Scotland by £27.2 million GVA during the construction.
• 8.5 full time equivalent jobs in Dumfries and Galloway, 8.5 full time equivalent jobs in the South of Scotland and 25.5 full time equivalent jobs in Scotland during the operational phase. 
• Over £57 million in business rates over its lifetime, supporting vital local services.
• A community benefit fund worth £27 million over its operational lifetime.

^{1 Calculated from the most recent statistics from Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) showing that annual GB average domestic household consumption is 3,239 kWh (as of January 2024, updated annually).
2 htttps://www.nationalgrideso.com/future-energy/future-energy-scenarios}