Almost 80 jobs would be created if plans for a 14 turbine wind farm close to two Borders villages get the green light, councillors will be told next week.

Members of the Scottish Borders Council’s Planning and Building Standards Committee will be asked their views on the proposed Greystone Knowe Wind Farm, earmarked for land around 2km south of Heriot and 2.5km west of Fountainhall, when they meet on Monday, March 4.

The final decision on the bid lies with the Energy Consents Unit at Scottish Government (ECU), but members will be recommended not to object to the application.

They will be informed that 79 jobs would be created during the 21-month construction programme, during which an estimated £10m in contracts could be secured within the Borders.

In a report to the committee, SBC planning officer Mr Scott Shearer says: “The application site lies to the west of the Gala Water Valley and borders the Moorfoot hills. The A7 and Borders Railway run in a north – south direction to the east of the site.

“The applicant is seeking consent for an operational period of 30 years. At the end of this period, unless ‘re-powered’ or unless a new planning permission is granted that would extend the wind farm’s life, it would be decommissioned, and the site restored in agreement with a decommissioning method statement

“It is accepted that jobs would be created during construction and should the developer use local firms and businesses, greater economic impact would be generated. Following the construction phase the development would sustain a low number of jobs although this would increase during decommissioning.

“It is acknowledged that, within the Scottish Borders visibility of the development is generally limited to the eastern part of the Moorfoot hills and the Gala Water Valley.

“Outwith 10km of the development, the proposal does not appear to affect any substantially populated parts of the Scottish Borders. ”

The turbines would have tip heights up to a maximum of 180 metres.