Ewe Hill and Rowantree wind farms meet different fates

One scheme in southern Scotland was approved but the other was rejected

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has approved a 22-turbine wind farm in Dumfries and Galloway but refused a similar-sized scheme in the Borders.

He gave the go-ahead to the Ewe Hill project for ScottishPower Renewables between Lockerbie and Langholm.

Mr Ewing said it would create a "significant number of jobs" and generate power for about 24,000 homes.

However, he refused the 21-turbine Rowantree wind farm near Oxton due to "unacceptable environmental impacts".

Mr Ewing said the Dumfries and Galloway scheme could deliver the equivalent of 80 short-term construction jobs.

'Considerable benefits'

"It's encouraging to see that a solution has been found to deal with the aviation radar issues which have held the proposal up," he said.

"Projects like this provide considerable benefits to the local community, and play an important part in helping Scotland reach its target of 100% of electricity demand generated from renewables."

He ruled that the plans in the Borders by RWE Innogy could not proceed.

"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 renewables projects should reflect the scale and character of the landscape, as well as being considered environmentally acceptable," he said.

"That is why I have refused permission for the proposed wind farm at Rowantree, which would have brought unacceptable environmental impacts to people living in the area."