Wind farm warehouse at Land 125M Northeast Of 2 Dumfries Road, Elvanfoot, Biggar

“Description of Proposed Development 3.1. Planning permission is sought for a storage and distribution warehouse (3,375m2), to be used as a logistic hub for servicing and maintaining wind farms in the area. Also included will be an ancillary staff canteen, toilets and office. It will be used as a base for storing and transporting wind turbine components. A hard standing area will be formed for parking, vehicle manoeuvring and outside storage.”

“The building will be aligned along an east/west axis with the side gable facing the road and the front elevation facing into a hardstanding yard (9,746m2). The dimensions of the warehouse are 75m in length, 45m in width and 15m in height. Externally it will be finished in metal corrugated panelling.”

“Site Description 2.1. The site (1.99 ha) is situated in the rural area, 1.2km to the north of Elvanfoot and 1.3km to the south of Crawford. It comprises relatively level grassland with a small number of trees along the southern boundary. There is a small area of hardstanding in the southwestern corner.”

“To the south the site adjoins a car and truck depot, to the west by the main west coast railway line, to the north by open grassland and to the east by the A702 and beyond by agricultural grassland. The River Clyde is nearby, 200m to the southeast and the junction slipway to the M74 is 230m to the north.”

“Relevant Planning History 4.1. Planning Permission CL/00/0318 was refused, in November 2001, for a car and truck service area. Planning Permission CL/02/0711 was refused, in March 2003, for a car and truck stop building.”

“The site is located within proximity to numerous operational wind farms and other schemes that are under construction or have an extant planning permission. The applicant has submitted information on the specific needs of the business and has set out alternative sites that have been considered, including sites allocated for employment use in SLLDP2.”

“On the hillsides are established wind farms and blocks of coniferous commercial forestry plantations. Other structures include mobile mast, overhead masts, substation and commercial yard. Through excavations to create an even platform, the building has a floor level which has been set as low as possible. Screen planting will further minimise visual impacts.”

“Roads, Transportation and Fleet Services – No objection subject to conditions covering access, hard surfacing, visibility, verge provision and drainage. Response: Noted. Suitable conditions would be attached to any consent issued.”

“Environmental Services – No objection subject to conditions covering noise emissions and floodlighting. Response: Noted. Should planning permission be approved appropriate conditions would be attached to any decision issued.”

“Amenity • The proposed building will overshadow everything in Elvanfoot. ⧫ The area is being turned into an industrial landscape. ⧫ Loss of a greenfield site. ⧫ Disruption to the greenbelt. ⧫ There are no similar developments of this height or capacity nearby. ⧫ An urban scale development in a non-industrial setting. ⧫ The proposed building would be double the height of the building next door. ⧫ The building would be painted anthracite grey.”

“Impact on Natural and Historic Environment ⧫ Disruption to surrounding wildlife. ⧫ Concern about archaeology that will be affected. ⧫ A Roman Road runs across the site. ⧫ Historical significance of the site and the surrounding Lowther Hills. ⧫ Elvanfoot falls within a Special Landscape Character Area. ⧫ Will destroy local moorland and turn it into a concrete wasteland.”

“At its meeting on 25 November 2025, the Committee continued the consideration of the application to a future meeting on the grounds that the supporting information relating to the application had not been available to view on the Council website, on the day of the meeting, due to technical issues.”

“The Committee decided: that planning application P/25/0479 by Windtranz Limited for the erection of a storage and distribution warehouse with ancillary office and canteen (Class 6), formation of hardstanding and vehicular access and land engineering operations including retaining walls at Dumfries Road, Elvanfoot, Biggar be granted subject to the conditions specified in the Executive Director’s report.”