The Scottish Borders local authority for the project, which will involve the construction of 12 turbines in Cloich Forest near Eddleston, first objected to the plan in Cloich Forest in 2014. However, work on the plan, which was later approved by the Scottish government, never started. The revised plans have now been submitted and the council has decided not to oppose them this time. Proposals near Eddleston have a long planning history. In 2012, the Department of Defense opposed plans with 18 turbines, fearing their impact on the seismic monitoring station at Eskdalemuir. Two years later the Scottish Border Council also decided to appeal, citing concerns about landscape impact. A public inquiry was held and the Scottish government decided that the project could continue into 2016. One condition of the approval was that the study had to begin within five years – this was extended to six due to the Covid pandemic – but that has now expired.
New plans were put forward to reduce the number of turbines to 12. Concerns remain about "significant landscape and visual impacts" on the site. But a report to legislators highlighted that the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) reforms approved this year mean they must give "significant weight" to a plan's contribution to meeting renewable energy targets. It was concluded that the benefits outweigh the negatives and that the local government should not oppose the project this time.
Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czk8kzle2d2o
