Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has refused consent for the Harelaw Renewable Energy Park wind farm.

The Minister agreed with the findings of a Public Inquiry Reporter that said the design of the wind farm, as well as the number and height of the turbines, would appear "out of scale" with the surrounding environment and would have "significant adverse landscape and visual impacts."

Mr Ewing also voiced his concern over the visual impact to nearby properties and the likely noise from that proposal that would be detrimental to the residential amenities of several nearby properties.


The original application, which was submitted by Gamesa Energy UK Ltd, was for a 117MW, 40-turbines with a top height of up to 118 metres, to be constructed on Glenouther Moor, south of Neilston.

Energy Minster Fergus Ewing said: "Scotland has enormous potential for renewable energy that is delivering jobs and investment across Scotland, and I am determined to ensure communities all over Scotland reap the benefit from renewable energy – but not at any cost and we will ensure a balanced approach in taking forward this policy, as we have in the past and will in future.

"The significant adverse impacts of the proposed Glenouther Moor wind farm to the local communities is too great.

"The Scottish Government wants to see the right developments in the right places and Scottish planning policy is clear that the design and location of any wind farm should reflect the scale and character of the landscape and should be considered environmentally acceptable."

(JP/CD)