Aberdeen-based renewables firm, Muirden Energy, has had their planning permission application overturned on appeal for a proposed Caithness windfarm.
The 36MW Cogle Moss site in the Scottish Highlands was objected to by locals and The Scottish Wildlife Trust who stated a stong objection over the potential ‘fragmentation of important species, habitats or ecoststems’.
The application was most recently denied planning permission in January 2017.
That decision has now been overturned by government officials.
Cogle Moss will include of 12 wind turbines with a restricted tip height of 100 meters.
The proposed site would create enough energy to power 15,000 homes.
Once financing is in place Muirden Energy stated that they would like to begin construction in early 2020.
Alex Fowley, Muirden Energy partner, said: “Muirden Energy is delighted with the Reporters decision to consent Cogle Moss wind farm. It is a site we have been working on for several years now and one which we feel is ideal for a wind farm given its excellent wind resource and the significant distance to neighbouring properties.
“The wind farm is predicted to create the equivalent of 76 full time jobs during its construction in the highland region alone and we are committed to working with local contractors wherever possible.
“The grid connection date is yet to be finalised but we are anticipating 2020 at the earliest and will work closely with SSE on this. Given the recent challenges to the on-shore wind market it’s vital that good, windy projects, which have the potential to be viable in a subsidy free market, are supported and therefore this approval gives us real optimism for the future.”
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