Plans for the UK's largest community-owned wind farm has been given a £1m grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

The Beinn Ghrideag wind farm, owned and managed by the Point and Sandwick Development Trust (PSDT) on the Isle of Lewis, has been proposed for a site of common grazing land about four miles west of Stornoway.

The PSDT wants to build three turbines capable of generating a total of 9MW. It is hoped the scheme will generate more than £36m in the next 25 years as a result and making it the largest community wind farm in the UK.

The award of £999,718 will part fund the initial capital costs and fees associated with the installation of three 3MW Enderon Wind Turbines to generate renewable electricity which will be sold to the National Grid and generating revenue which will be reinvested into local community projects.

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The current plans for reinvestment were devised after a community wide consultation and include support for the only hospice on Lewis, a scheme to reduce fuel poverty for islanders and funding to offer greater help and support to young islanders with additional needs.

Big Lottery Fund Scotland Director, Jackie Killeen, said: "The Big Lottery Fund is delighted to support the Point & Sandwick Development Trust as they develop this wind farm. Our Growing Community Assets funding is for exactly this kind of project where communities look at what they have and how they can take ownership of those assets to transform the lives of those who live in their local communities.

"This project is about power but not just electricity. With the development of this wind farm the Point and Sandwick Development Trust is now powerfully enabled to shape their own future and offer much needed services to those living remotely on the Isle of Lewis thanks to the revenue this wind farm will bring in the long term."

(JP/CD)