Galloway Faces Half a Billion Pounds Loss if National Park Proceeds, report finds

The proposed establishment of a national park in Galloway could result in the loss of around half a billion pounds to the area over the next decade, says Scottish Renewables, the trade body representing the onshore wind industry in Scotland.

The warning comes ahead of an imminent deadline for NatureScot to submit its advice to the Scottish Government following an extended public consultation period. No decision to designate a third national park has yet been taken – and ministers will now consider the proposal.

Projections from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero indicate that Dumfries and Galloway could generate up to 3.2 GW of energy from onshore wind by 2035. This would contribute approximately £935 million over the next decade and support up to 624 jobs annually at peak activity. Community benefit payments in the region could amount to £146 million by 2035.

However, research from Biggar Economics has found that adopting a planning regime similar to Scotland's existing national parks could result in the Galloway region suffering a cumulative economic loss of around £543 million by 2035, with 470 fewer jobs supported annually at peak activity. The region could also miss out on approximately £64 million in community benefit funding.

The report found that a new national park in Galloway would likely reduce economic activity as onshore wind developers face increased challenges and opposition to developments near the park. This would hinder the deployment of onshore wind projects, resulting in reduced economic activity, lower community benefit payments, and difficulties in meeting national renewable energy targets by 2030.

The Scottish Government's Onshore Wind Policy Statement aims to achieve 20GW of onshore wind capacity by 2030, a crucial step towards decarbonising Scotland's energy system. Dumfries and Galloway is a key region for onshore wind development and the report has highlighted that any national park designation could severely hinder progress towards these targets.

Scottish Renewables is urging policymakers to reconsider the Galloway National Park proposal, emphasising that the potential economic and environmental benefits of onshore wind development in Dumfries and Galloway far outweigh the advantages of a national park designation.

Claire Mack, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, said:

“The proposal to designate a new National Park in Dumfries and Galloway must be weighed carefully against the significant economic and environmental contributions of renewable energy projects currently in development.

“Research by BiGGAR Economics shows that blocking onshore wind developments alone could lead to fewer jobs, lower investment, and lost opportunities for communities. And that’s just part of the picture — the study didn’t include the impact of losing solar, battery storage, or transmission projects, which would make the economic hit even worse.

“It’s also important to remember renewable energy projects are already delivering tangible environmental gains. They are subject to rigorous habitat and peatland management plans and, under the Scottish Onshore Wind Sector Deal, are committed to achieving biodiversity net gain.

“In many cases, the level of ecological restoration supported by renewable developers exceeds what could be achieved through public funding alone. A National Park designation should not come at the cost of clean energy, green jobs, and vital infrastructure. Any decision must consider what local communities stand to lose, not just what they might gain.”

Ends

• Free to use image of Claire Mack available, here
• The Biggar Economics report ‘Implications of the proposed Galloway National Park on the onshore wind sector’ is available to download, here