ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) has announced a £1.5 billion plan to repower and expand Whitelee Windfarm in East Ayrshire, aiming to nearly double its electricity output and deliver hundreds of jobs, energy security, and increased community funding.
Investment and benefits
The project is expected to create hundreds of jobs and generate £500 million in supply chain opportunities. SPR also revealed that the three local authority areas straddled by the windfarm—including East Ayrshire—will share around £5 million every year in community benefit funding, compared with the £20 million received in total over the windfarm's lifespan, making it almost five times the annual average sum so far.
Political and community support
Kilmarnock and Loudoun MP Lillian Jones welcomed the plans, stating: "I warmly welcome ScottishPower Renewables’ intention to repower the site, securing Whitelee’s future for another generation and beyond. This proposal represents a major vote of confidence in our area." She added that the investment will support jobs during development and construction, create long-term employment, and provide substantial economic benefits to the Scottish economy.
Details of the repowering
SPR Chief Executive Charlie Jordan said: "Whitelee is not just an iconic windfarm and the jewel in the UK’s renewables crown, it has also grown into a much-loved asset for the local communities." The plans will see the number of turbines reduced from 215 to 124, but with increased height to 250 meters, boosting capacity from 539 megawatts to 1 gigawatt. This could power the equivalent of 650,000 homes—300,000 more than the current 350,000 homes.
The work will be carried out in three phases, maintaining public access where possible. A new substation is planned in the East Renfrewshire section. The plans have been lodged with the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit and will be published online in the coming weeks. A planning application is expected in December 2027, with operation targeted by 2035.
Community involvement and future
Jordan highlighted that communities will be closely involved, with the possibility of shared ownership. He said: "We want to build on the existing success of our windfarms before they reach the end of their natural lifespan… Whitelee will set the standard for that programme." SPR has worked with landowners including Forestry Land Scotland and Scottish Power to secure the site's future.
Lillian Jones MP added: "Whitelee is about more than energy generation. It is a valued community asset… I look forward to engaging with ScottishPower Renewables, local residents and community groups to ensure the project delivers maximum benefits for Kilmarnock and Loudoun while helping Scotland and the United Kingdom meet our future energy needs."
