Nature Groups Demand First Minister Reverse Berwick Bank Wind Farm Approval

RSPB Scotland and other nature charities have urged First Minister John Swinney to reverse a consent decision for SSE’s 4100MW Berwick Bank offshore wind farm. Several conservation organizations have sent a joint letter to the First Minister of Scotland, cautioning that the proposed Berwick Bank offshore wind project could have serious and harmful effects on Scotland’s seabird populations if it proceeds. The signatories include RSPB Scotland, the Marine Conservation Society, the Scottish Wildlife Trust, the National Trust for Scotland, and the Scottish Seabird Centre. They emphasize that the project is planned within critical feeding areas for seabirds from renowned sites such as Bass Rock, the Isle of May, and St Abb’s Head, warning that its potential impacts are so significant they could drive species like the kittiwake toward local—or even national—extinction.

In July 2025, the Scottish Government approved planning permission for the Berwick Bank offshore wind project, which will be located off Scotland’s east coast near crucial seabird feeding areas and internationally significant sites such as Bass Rock, home to one of the largest gannet colonies in the world. The wind farm will be extensive, featuring over 300 turbines and spanning an area four times larger than the city of Edinburgh.