The Borders' Conservative MP has tabled a bill in Parliament aimed at tightening controls on energy infrastructure development across the south of Scotland, calling for a new body to coordinate planning of projects such as electricity pylons and wind farms.
Call for coordination and community protection
John Lamont, who represents Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, said too many proposals are reaching decision-making stages without adequate consideration of the communities affected. He described the current situation as a "wild west" of energy projects and urged the UK Government to work with devolved administrations for a more unified approach.
"We need to have protection for the communities, understanding as to how many connections are going to be allowed, so we don't get all these speculative applications coming through the system. We just need coordination."
Lamont cited longstanding tensions in the Borders where high elevation and reliable winds have made the area attractive to developers. That favourable geography, he argues, has led to numerous proposals for renewable energy infrastructure that have provoked disputes locally.
Local impacts named in debate
The bill is framed around several concerns raised by residents and campaign groups: the visual impact of large-scale infrastructure; the cumulative effect of multiple developments; and loss of land that might otherwise be used for food production. Mr Lamont says many communities feel "frustrated and under attack" by the scale and pace of applications coming forward.
- Proposed measure: establishment of a new government agency to co‑ordinate planning of energy infrastructure
- Main focus: pylons, wind farms and electricity network connections
- Stated aims: better protection for communities and limits on speculative applications
He has suggested that this is not solely a Scotland issue but one that requires UK‑wide co‑operation on planning and connections, with the aim of avoiding uncoordinated decision‑making that places a disproportionate burden on certain rural areas.
Context and next steps
The south of Scotland has seen a number of high‑profile disputes over pylon routes and wind farm proposals in recent years. Campaigns opposing specific projects have become a recurring feature of local political life, reflecting concerns about landscape change and local consultation.
Mr Lamont hopes the bill will prompt parliamentary debate in due course. If it gains traction, the measure could force a rethink of how applications for grid connections and generation sites are assessed and authorised, and whether a single coordinating body is needed to balance national energy targets with community interests in places such as the Scottish Borders.
| Issue | Concern raised |
|---|---|
| Speculative applications | Creates planning uncertainty and local frustration |
| Connections and grid capacity | Need for clearer limits and coordination |
| Land use | Impact on agricultural land and local economies |
For residents of the Borders, the proposals raise familiar questions about how to reconcile national energy ambitions with the protection of landscape, livelihoods and local views. The next stage is for MPs and ministers to decide whether the bill merits further scrutiny and, if so, what form any new regulatory arrangements might take.
