Plans for a landmark £11 million sculpture on the border of Scotland and England have taken a major step forward.
Permission is being sought for a new site beside the M74.
The 35 metre Star of Caledonia will be taller than the Angel of the North and the team behind the project is now reapplying for planning permission to Dumfries & Galloway Council, having moved the proposed site less than a mile up the motorway.
The illuminated sculpture, which would be next to Gretna Green, promises to create jobs in the local area and drive more than £50m of additional tourism revenue, the team said.
It will be clearly visible from the M74 and form a stunning welcome and farewell to Scotland for travellers, the team added.
The project has secured funding pledges from Community Windpower, one of Scotland’s largest green energy operators, the Scottish Government agency South of Scotland Enterprise and the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.
The new plans include a visitor centre that will showcase the Star and act as a gateway to promote tourist trails across Dumfries & Galloway and the Borders.
The sculpture was designed by Cecil Balmond, who worked with Anish Kapoor on the helix-shaped ArcelorMittal Orbit tower ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Its spiral design is inspired by the work of James Clerk Maxwell, the Scottish physicist best known for his formulation of electromagnetic theory, who lived near Castle Douglas.
Balmond has said he hopes the sculpture will act “as a metaphor for the dynamism of the Scottish nation, symbolising the energy and power of Sottish invention”.
It is also hoped that the Star will put the south of Scotland on the map as a leader in the transition to renewables, as the illumination could be powered by renewable energy.
Susan Houston, chair of the Star of Caledonia Trust, the team behind the project, said: “We have always believed this project would happen. And with a new site and new plans, we have a new start.
“This revival is transformational and marks a pivotal moment for Gretna Green and the surrounding area, symbolising resilience, and adaptability in the face of challenges.
“As the Star of Caledonia gets a new home, the project is not just about a landmark sculpture but a catalyst for tourism, local economies, and community pride.”
