THE company behind the Pencloe Wind Farm now being constructed near New Cumnock are bringing forward their proposal for a five turbine extension.

And Invenergy have organised a second drop-in consultation event in the village next week.

The company said they hoped to fully brief residents and the community about the proposals, including discussing feedback received from events held in August.

The new round of engagement will take place on Thursday, November 14 at the Working Mens Club, in Afton Bridgend, from 2-6pm.

Pencloe Wind Farm received planning consent from Scottish Ministers in August 2021 for the development of up to 19 turbines with a height of 149.9m to blade tip and an installed capacity of between 80 to 90MW. Work began on-site at the end of April.

The proposed additional turbines would be located on land within Ashmark Farm, to the west of Pencloe Forest and immediately to the northwest of the consented wind farm.

This is approximately 4km to the southwest of New Cumnock.

The extension would share an electrical grid connection with the Pencloe Wind Farm that is now under construction.

Access to the site will be taken from the consented abnormal load access route for Pencloe Wind Farm.

A Pencloe spokesperson said: "A community benefit fund of £5,000 per MW per annum has been already agreed for the wind farm.

"The fund will be managed by the 9CC, which comprises the nine community councils across Cumnock and the Doon Valley, to allocate and distribute the fund throughout the local community fairly.

"We are pleased to confirm that this will be index-linked, meaning the community benefit will be linked to inflation throughout the lifetime of the project.

"A further £5,000 per MW will be available for the proposed five-turbine extension if consented."