PLANS for more than 20 new wind turbines in the Lammermuir Hills will be revealed at two exhibitions next week.

Belltown Power has identified a site at Newlands Hill to the south-east of Gifford and south of Garvald.

The proposals, which straddle the B6355 before the road heads east towards Whiteadder Reservoir, will be shown at public exhibitions in the two villages.

The site is currently used as a managed grouse moor and could become home to up to 23 turbines, varying in tip height from 180 to 230 metres.

Online statements in support of the scheme said: “Through an extensive site search and constraint mapping, this site has been identified as having excellent potential for onshore wind development.

“It has a robust wind resource, it is located near to available grid capacity, it is expected to have limited ecological impact, with good separation from residential dwellings and cultural heritage assets.”

A virtual exhibition for Newlands Hill Wind Energy Hub is in place until March 28.

On Tuesday, a physical exhibition is held at Garvald Village Hall from 1pm to 8pm, with another exhibition in Gifford Village Hall the following day between the same times.

A spokesperson for the development, which is about six kilometres south-east of Gifford, said: “The scheme, if consented, will comprise wind turbines as well as a battery storage facility, new native forestry and habitat enhancement.

“We fundamentally believe that as well as tackling climate change, renewable projects should materially benefit the communities that host them and have developed a groundbreaking community ownership scheme that genuinely enables host communities to own part of the development.”

That includes providing £5,000 per MW per annum (index linked) of community benefit.

For more information, go to www.belltownpower.com/uk/newlandshill