OnPath Energy has initiated public consultations for a proposed eight-turbine wind farm in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a series of community exhibitions scheduled to gather local feedback on the development plans.
The project, located approximately 3.5 kilometres east of Netherthird on the site of the former Garleffan and Grievehill open-cast coal mine, is expected to generate up to 161.5 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually if approved. Each turbine would have a maximum tip height of 250 metres.
The first round of public exhibitions will begin on 22 April at New Cumnock Bowling Club, followed by events at Logan Day Centre on 23 April and Netherthird Community Centre on 24 April.
“These exhibitions are a key milestone in our journey, giving us the chance to speak directly with the people who know this area best,” said Ewan Robertson, project manager for the Cumnock and Doon Valley wind farm proposal.
OnPath Energy has already submitted a scoping report for the site, which outlines early-stage environmental and technical assessments. The consultation process is part of the company’s wider OnPath Together development approach, which includes shared ownership opportunities and community engagement throughout the planning phase.
Under current proposals, the wind farm would provide at least £5000 per megawatt annually in community benefit funding. OnPath is also offering local communities 1% free equity in the project, with the option to invest further at market value.
Aileen McCreadie, partnerships and community manager at OnPath Energy, said the company is seeking meaningful input from residents. “We’re not here to simply present plans, we’re here to listen, to understand local priorities, and where possible to reflect them in the final proposals,” McCreadie said.
“We want to hear from as many members of the community as possible, whether you have ideas for new walking routes, thoughts on what local residents need most, or concerns you’d like to share,” she added.
The consultation process will continue through a second round of public exhibitions later this year, before a formal planning application is submitted.
