SCOTTISH Borders Council has given the green light for a 90m meteorological mast in Innerleithen.
The mast and the siting of a ground based solar panel array will be used to test wind and weather conditions for the proposed Leithenwater Wind Energy Hub, earmarked for land north of Glentress Forest.
It will be fitted with bird diverters and infra-red aviation lighting and will be supported by 50m radius guy wires.
The mast will also be equipped with instrumentation capable of measuring wind conditions on site, including speed, direction, pressure, and temperature, all powered by a solar array.
The site is located within the Leithenwater Forest on the land of a private estate, approximately 8.5 km north west of Innerleithen, and 5.1 km north east of Peebles.
At least 400 people previously backed the proposed location of Belltown Power’s 13-turbine hub.
A scoping report, submitted to Scottish Borders Council for construction of the hub, said the expected operational life of the site would be 35 to 40 years from the date of commissioning, with construction expected to take approximately 18 months.
The site comprises of commercial forestry and open moorland.
