£100m boost from wind facility

A South Lanarkshire wind farm is set to deliver a £100 million boost to the region thanks to a pledge between a developer and the local council.

Connect2renewables (C2R) was launched in 2014 by Banks Renewables with the support of local communities and South Lanarkshire Council, and seeks to maximise the social and economic benefits of the company’s wind developments in the area.

With construction of the 88-megawatt Kype Muir Wind Farm, south of Strathaven, well underway, it is now estimated that the project will be worth in excess of £100m to the local economy. To date nearly £20m of contracts have been given to firms based within 30 kilometres of the wind farm.

Local businesses that have benefited from large contracts include Drumclog Plant Hire, Hillhouse Quarry Ltd and KT Montgomery.

Colin Anderson, development director of Banks Renewables, said: “A key part of Connect2renewables is to ensure we use as many local contractors as possible, as we know this has a hugely positive knock on effect for the local economy and the people living and working there.

“The construction of Kype Muir Wind Farm will positively contribute to the area for a generation, with local community groups, shops, businesses and individuals seeing tangible benefits.”

Construction works, including turbine erection, and connecting the facility to the National Grid, are programmed to be completed by early 2019.

Anderson added: “Connect2renewables is a groundbreaking initiative that is all about giving local people opportunities that they wouldn’t otherwise have. It also shows that as we increase the amount of clean, renewable energy in our country to address the climate change imperatives, that we can do it in a way that has clear social and economic upsides for our communities and businesses.”