A MAJOR wind farm development near Dalmellington worth an estimated £65m in community benefit has reached a significant milestone.

Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK has been appointed as principal contractor for £300 million North Kyle scheme.

The 49-turbine development will have the capacity to power more than 160,000 households

The development recently reached a significant construction milestone with the first pouring of concrete on turbine foundations.

Cumnock Chronicle: Work is ongoing.Work is ongoing. (Image: Outwrite PR)

Jones Bros completed the 400 cubic metre pour in approximately nine hours by utilising its two on-site concrete batching plants.

Developers have since finished a further six turbine bases on the development, led by Brockwell Energy, which will be capable of generating 220.5 megawatts of renewable energy when complete.

With a life-span of 40 years, North Kyle will also help fund vital regeneration in the communities surrounding the former mining complex.

Work officially started on the site last August, with the scheme situated on and around the former Chalmerston and House of Water coal mining sites.

Cumnock Chronicle: Work beginning in August.Work beginning in August. (Image: Outwrite)

First power generation from the wind farm in south west Scotland is expected in autumn 2024.

Jonathan Maitland, project manager for Jones Bros, is thrilled that the project is on schedule after the Scottish weather presented several hurdles.

He said: “Every continuous pour of this scale over the winter period is a challenge. The first one, for example, was completed in temperatures below 3 degrees Centigrade.

“Despite the cold weather, it went extremely well due to our hardworking and conscientious team, who implemented a number of mitigation measures to ensure the base was free of frost and subsequently cured correctly.

“Our highly skilled group have allowed us to keep pace with the timetable regardless of the obstacles we’ve faced on what is our 20th wind farm in Scotland. This highlights exactly why we have such a strong reputation in the sector.”

Cumnock Chronicle: The development will be near North Kyle Forest.The development will be near North Kyle Forest. (Image: Billy Mccrorie)

The pouring of concrete on turbine foundations follows the completion of enabling works, construction of an access track, crane pad, and three welfare compounds, as well as creation of the substation platform. 

The Jones Bros team of 170 personnel, including plant apprentices and trainee engineers, is now undertaking cabling works and the creation of the remaining site tracks and crane hardstandings, with turbine delivery set to start in April this year.

Richard Buckland, Brockwell Energy’s project manager, added: “We are delighted to see this milestone achieved and look forward to Jones Bros making good progress with the remainder of the programme. 

“We are especially pleased to see the use of on-site batching plant and concrete aggregate materials generated on location – both of which reduce the environmental and traffic impact of the project.”