Plans to build 31 wind turbines on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park have been called in by the Scottish Government.
The 410ft high turbines are proposed for the Alvie, Dalraddy and Dunachton estates, just outside the boundary of the park and have been lodged by developer RWE Npower Renewables.
Last night, the developers said they were confident they had a “strong case”.
In January, members of Highland Council’s south planning committee voted to lodge a formal objection to the plans following a site visit.
Members claimed there was a risk of a detrimental impact on the national park, the boundary of which is just a few hundred yards from the site.
One councillor said during the meeting the windfarm would ruin the sense of “wildness” in the Monadhliath Mountains.
The decision means that the windfarm will be decided by a public local inquiry.
Yesterday, it was revealed the development hadbeen called in by the Scottish Government and allocated to reporter Jill Moody.
A spokesman for the Save the Monadhliath Mountains group, which is fighting the proposal, said: “We believe there is a line in the sand and this is it. This windfarm is a step too far.
“After months of tireless campaigning and securing large scale public support, we hope that people will make the Scottish Government and the reporter aware of their opposition.”
But Jenny Gascoigne, the company’s wind development manager, said: “We believe the proposed layout will have minimal affects on all aspects of the environment and Scottish Natural Heritage have not objected to this application.
“We are confident that we will have a strong case to put forward at the public inquiry.”