The world’s biggest windfarm versus the Forth's seabirds
Plus: Storm Floris hits Festivals; teenager knocked down by Royal Mile car; and new mural for Colinton
Conservation charities consider legal challenge to massive Firth of Forth windfarm
One of the world’s biggest windfarms looks set to be built in the Firth of Forth despite fears it will kill tens of thousands of sea birds.
The Scottish Government has approved the huge project at Berwick Bank, 23 miles off the East Lothian coast, near the globally important sea bird colonies at Bass Rock, the Isle of May and St Abbs.
Fully developed, Berwick Bank would be the biggest offshore windfarm in the world, according to developer SSE Renewables, generating enough electricity to meet the needs of every household in Scotland twice over.
However, conservation charities including the RSPB and the National Trust, have staunchly opposed the development, estimating it will kill tens of thousands of sea birds. They are now considering their next steps, including a potential legal challenge.
Just how big is it? At up to 307 turbines, it’s massive. Big enough to be crucial to hitting the UK’s clean energy targets, which aim to roughly treble wind power capacity by 2030. The 4.1gigawatts(GW) a year capacity at Berwick Bank is a giant step towards the UK target of at least 43GW. That 4.1GW is enough energy to power 17% of all UK homes, and avoid eight million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, the equivalent of removing all of Scotland’s car emissions, according to SSE.
Economic boost: The Port of Leith, which has been turned into a bespoke offshore renewables hub, is likely to play a key role in construction and maintenance of the windfarm. It will also bring work to East Lothian where a major cable bringing power ashore will land near Dunbar. Overall, a study by renewable energy consultants, BVG Associates (BVGA), estimates the windfarm will be worth up to £4.1billion to the Scottish economy and create up to 4,650 jobs in the country over the 35-year lifespan of the project.
At what cost to wildlife? The windfarm could prove “catastrophic” for many seabirds which breed in the Firth of Forth, particularly puffins, kittiwakes and gannets. SSE predicts more than 31,000 bird collisions over the lifetime of the turbines, with the National Trust for Scotland estimating a loss of more than 40,000 birds in the estuary as a result of deaths and displacement.
Right or wrong place? The RSPB, the National Trust and North Berwick’s Scottish Seabird Centre are part of a coalition of conservation charities who say the development is in the wrong place. Nearby Bass Rock, for example, is home to the world's largest colony of Northern Gannets. The site has been chosen partly due to the relative ease with which the power it generates can be transferred to the main UK electricity grid via cables at Dunbar and Blyth in Northumberland.
What they said:
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes described the decision as “a major step in Scotland’s progress towards achieving net zero and tackling the climate crisis, as well as supporting national energy security and growing our green economy.”
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband added: “We need to take back control of our energy and more offshore wind getting the green light marks a huge step forward in Britain’s energy security and getting bills down for good.”
Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland, said: “ We are incredibly concerned that Scottish Government have granted consent for a project which could catapult some of Scotland’s most-loved seabird species towards extinction.”
What happens next? Last week’s approval from the Scottish Government was the last major hurdle to the project and construction work is expected to get underway in the coming months. However, the RSPB has said it will “consider further steps”, which could include requesting a judicial review. The charity was previously involved in an ultimately unsuccessful legal challenge to the Seagreen windfarm off the Angus coast.
Can it be stopped? It seems unlikely that the project can be halted, however little detail has been provided so far for the mitigations which SSE Renewables must provide for the inevitable harm to birdlife. Pressure from conservation charities may yet influence the quantity and quality of those measures.
YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING
ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK: The Scottish Government’s transport agency asked for the end of the Oasis concerts at Murrayfield Stadium to be brought forward from 10.45pm to avoid laying on extra late night trains. The response from concert promoters DF Concerts was described as “vociferous” by a Transport Scotland official, The Sun reports. The promoters said early curfews would make bands less willing to perform. Oasis appear at Murrayfield on Friday, Saturday and the following Tuesday.
STORM FLORIS: After a glorious first weekend for the Festivals, Storm Floris sweeps in today with an amber weather warning across Edinburgh and the Lothians, with winds of 60-70mph forecast. The Tattoo has been cancelled for the first time ever after tonight’s performance was called off. With many train services in and out of the Capital expected to be affected, Fringe by the Sea in North Berwick has also cancelled today’s events. Planned ceilidh events in Princes Street Gardens are also off. The storm is expected to pass by midnight.
CASTEHILL CRASH: A teenager has been taken to hospital after being hit by the driver of a car on Castlehill, at the top of the Royal Mile, on the second day of this year’s Festivals. A 59-year-old man has been reported to the procurator fiscal following the incident just after 10.20am on Saturday.
DRIVER JAILED: A speeding driver who killed a 21-year-old father while running late for work has been jailed for three years and nine months. Evan Davis, 22, of Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, admitted causing Stephen McGovern’s death by dangerous driving after travelling at more than 60mph on the city's Calder Road in July, 2023.
COVID ROAD MEASURES: Road changes made in the east of Edinburgh during Covid look set to be made permanent. New bus lanes, paths and restrictions on vehicles waiting and loading were brought in during the pandemic to make cycling and walking easier. Councillors are expected to agree this week to make the changes, which include bus lanes on Milton Road West, and restrictions on loading and waiting on Duddingston Road and Duddingston Road West, permanent.
NEW COLINTON MURAL: Artist Chris Rutterford has created a spectacular new mural for his home area of Colinton. Rutterford was responsible for the Colinton Tunnel mural, which depicts the Robert Louis Stevenson poem From A Railway Carriage, and stretches through 140m of the Victorian railway tunnel. The new work depicts a bustling village scene and spans the length of Cuddies Lane.
PALESTINE PROTEST: Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted First Minister John Swinney’s appearance at the Fringe. The police were called in to remove protesters from The Stand comedy club where Swinney was being interviewed by the acclaimed comedian Susan Morrison.
E-BIKE ROBBERY: A 16-year-old has been stabbed and robbed of his e-bike in a city park. Police are investigating the incident which took place at 8.40pm last Wednesday in Baronscourt Park near Jock’s Lodge.
Pic of the week
THE BUSINESS
Homebuilders welcome talks, but stress importance of action
Homebuilders in Scotland say they are encouraged following a meeting with First Minister John Swinney and new Cabinet Secretary for Housing Mairi McAllan.
Industry body Homes for Scotland (HFS) welcome the Scottish Government’s renewed commitment to addressing the country’s housing emergency and work more closely with the sector. Their discussion focused on the state of the industry, governance of housing systems and the need to unlock supply across all tenures and how deeper collaboration with the sector can help ensure policy formation and implementation can be informed by the sector.
HFS Chief Executive Jane Wood said: “New homes are the foundation of thriving communities but without urgent action and genuine collaboration with the sector to understand and tackle the regulatory and planning challenges that currently impact new housing delivery, the emergency will only deepen.It is critical that this dialogue results in meaningful change – from a more effective regulatory framework that can foster a supportive and resourced planning regime to a long-term policy agenda that can provide the certainty that our members require to invest.”
NEW ROLE: Edinburgh Festival Fringe Chairman Benny Higgins has been appointed to chair accountancy firm Wbg. Mr Higgins, former Chief Executive of Tesco Bank, has a number of boardroom roles, including as Executive Chairman of the Duke of Buccleuch’s estates company and advised the Scottish Government on the creation of the Scottish National Investment Bank.
NEW DEVELOPMENT: Taylor Wimpey East Scotland has been given planning approval for a development of 214 new homes at Bilston in Midlothian. The development will include 25% affordable housing. Pre-construction work is underway at the site.
SOMETHING BREWING: Coffee giant Nespresso has opened an “immersive coffee boutique” in Edinburgh St James, which they describe as an “experiential retail” concept where visitors can sample new flavours, learn about the full range of machines and accessories, and attend masterclasses.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
The Festival season is of course in full swing with the Art Festival and Book Festival joining the fray on Thursday and Saturday respectively. We won’t even try to guide you through everything on offer, but you can get our top tips for the Fringe below.
POTTY PLANT: Among the highlights of this year’s Fringe is Potty the Plant, a dark, adult musical comedy at the Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose. You can read more about it and our other Fringe recommendations here.
LADIES’ DAY: Hats on, frocks out, it’s Ladies Day at Musselburgh on Friday. General tickets are sold out for the most glitzy day in the Scottish racing calendar, but some premium package ones are still available for those with deeper pockets.
BOW WOW: The National Trust’s Newhailes estate at Musselburgh embraces all things canine as it hosts Doghailes on Sunday. Expect dog-themed shopping, food and drink and competitions for ‘waggiest tail’ and ‘scruffiest dog’.
QUICK BITES
NEW ON THE MENU: City Italian restaurant Divino Enoteca has appointed a new Head Chef. Salvatore Agate has been promoted from sous chef, and brings more than 20 years of experience in kitchens in London and Italy with him.
PUB CHEER: The Cooper’s Rest pub on Easter Road is being revived by a team combining the talents of popular Edinburgh restaurant The Palmerston with Newbarns brewery. The pub, which has been closed for ten years, will serve locally sourced products when it opens next year.