ScottishPower Renewables has concluded the first round of statutory consultation for its proposed MachairWind offshore windfarm, thanking residents of Islay, Jura, Colonsay, Ross of Mull, and Iona for their active participation. The consultation closed on Sunday, 6 July 2025, following a comprehensive outreach campaign including online webinars, a virtual consultation room, and six community drop-in events across five islands.

Public Engagement and Feedback

The consultation aimed to gather input from local communities and stakeholders on the proposed windfarm development area. All feedback will now be reviewed to help inform the next phase of development, with a second consultation round scheduled for later this year. Kiera Wilson, MachairWind Development Lead at ScottishPower Renewables, expressed gratitude for the meaningful contributions received so far.

Project Highlights

• Capacity: Up to 2GW of renewable energy — enough to power 2 million homes.

• Economic Benefits: Expected to deliver local jobs, investment, and long-term opportunities for communities along Scotland’s west coast.

• Area Adjustments: The development area has been reduced from 754 km² to 510 km² in response to early design evaluations and public input.

Next Steps

The consent application for the windfarm development will be submitted to the Scottish Government's Marine Directorate in the first half of 2026. A separate consultation on the project's onshore grid connection infrastructure will follow. The team will continue community engagement efforts and will attend upcoming local events including the Mull Bunessan Show and the Islay, Jura, and Colonsay Agricultural Show.

The MachairWind project represents a major step forward in Scotland’s clean energy transition, aiming to create both sustainable energy and enduring economic value for generations to come.

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