Cloud Hill Wind Farm Given Green Light by Scottish Ministers

Glasgow, 16.12.2025:

Scottish Ministers have approved BayWa r.e.’s Cloud Hill Wind Farm near Sanquhar and Kirkconnel in Dumfries and Galloway. The 10-turbine project will have an installed capacity of around 56 MW, which is enough to supply 58,000 homes with green electricity. The wind farm was carefully designed to bring benefits to the local community, economy, and environment.

The final design reflects feedback from the community, Dumfries & Galloway Council, and statutory bodies, including NatureScot, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Following this input, four turbines were removed from the original proposal, and the substation was moved to reduce visual and environmental impacts.

Beyond producing clean energy, Cloud Hill Wind Farm will enhance the region for both people and wildlife. Over 400 hectares of land will be improved to support local biodiversity and bird species. The project also includes peatland and wetland restoration, along with planting of native trees and hedgerows to improve habitats. Local walking paths and access points will be upgraded, with new seating, signage and better links to the Southern Upland Way, making it easier for residents and visitors to enjoy the outdoors.

Cloud Hill Wind Farm is set to deliver major economic and community benefits for Dumfries & Galloway, including a £280,000 annual community benefit fund, totalling approximately £9.8 million over the project’s lifetime, to support local initiatives. The project will also contribute around £1.1 million per year in business rates, generating an estimated £38 million to strengthen local services, infrastructure, and education. In addition, more than 90 jobs are expected to be created during construction and operation, generating an estimated £5 million in net economic value for the regional economy.

Stuart Davidson, Head of Development at BayWa r.e. UK Ltd., said:

“We are delighted that Cloud Hill Wind Farm has received consent, and this achievement is a testament to the excellent collaboration with the communities of Sanquhar, Kirkconnel, Kelloholm, and Penpont in particular. Their input since the project was first announced has been invaluable in shaping a project that delivers clean energy, whilst also bringing meaningful benefits to the area, economy and environment.

We look forward to continuing this partnership and are excited to progress the Cloud Hill project to the next stage now we also have a Gate 2 grid connection offer confirmed.”

This marks the sixth planning permission that BayWa r.e.’s development team has achieved this year in the UK, including its first Development Consent Order for Oaklands Farm Solar Park in Derbyshire, as well as the approval for Redshaw BESS in South Lanarkshire, the company’s largest battery energy storage project in Europe. These milestones bring BayWa r.e.’s total consented capacity in 2025 to over 860 MW across wind, solar, and battery energy storage in the UK.

The Cloud Hill project team will now focus on reviewing and discharging any planning conditions for Cloud Hill Wind Farm ahead of construction, which is expected to begin in 2028.

Notes to editors

• 10 x 5.6 MW turbines up to 180 m tip height

• Number of households calculated based on 2023 DESNZ annual GB average domestic household consumption of 3,301 kWh: number of megawatts installed, multiplied by a site specific load factor, multiplied by number of hours in a year, divided by average annual domestic electricity consumption expressed in MWh

• Community Benefit Fund of £280,000 a year depending on the final capacity of the wind farm – totalling around £9.8 million over 35 years to support local priorities, based on a capacity of 56 MW;

• Business rate contributions of approximately £1.1 million a year totalling around £38 million over the project’s operational life. Estimate provided by Dumfries and Galloway Assessor and Electoral Registration Office based on a 56 MW wind farm with a load factor of 35%