Berwick Bank Offshore Windfarm

Offshore renewables could play a big role in tackling the climate crisis and building a clean, green industry in Scotland. But it must be developed in harmony with nature. The proposed site for Berwick Bank windfarm is off the East Lothian and Fife coast, in an area which is vital for globally important colonies of seabirds. This development threatens to kill tens of thousands of seabirds during it's lifetime. It’s simply the wrong place for an offshore wind farm.

If you couldn't make it to our recent Berwick Bank Community Update, you can access all of the slides here.

The Impact

Already more than half of Scotland’s seabird species are in decline, and in recent years some populations have been hit hard by avian flu. The projected impact of Berwick Bank threatens to further fuel declines.

Over the lifetime of the project Berwick Bank is projected to kill tens of thousands of seabirds. In addition to this many will be displaced, forced to forage elsewhere. Documents published by the Scottish Government alongside their consent for Berwick Bank highlight some of the most concerning projected mortalities.

Birds killed per year (upper value):

261
Gannets / year
2808
Common Guillemots / year
815
Kittiwakes / year
66
Puffins / year
154
Razorbills / year

What next?

On 1 August 2025 the Scottish Government consented Berwick Bank windfarm. However, that consent is conditional on the developer, SSE, producing a “Seabird Compensation Plan”. We do not consider it possible to compensate effectively for the sheer scale of impact that Berwick Bank is expected to have. We calling on the Scottish Government to recognise that compensation for Berwick Bank is neither plausible not appropriate, and to ensure that the project does not progress. Instead, the Scottish Government should focus its support on the many offshore windfarm proposals that are coming forward in less environmentally sensitive areas. These could generate clean, green electricity in harmony with nature.

What can you do?

On the 6th of March 2026 we delivered a petition with over 12,500 signatures to SSE offices, signalling the huge amount of public support for this development to be cancelled. We will keep on campaigning against Berwick Bank windfarm, but you can also help, email your MSP and ask them to call on the Scottish Government to halt this damaging development.

Please let us know if you do this, and share any responses you get.

Further information

Media Statements