Highland councillors will visit a north windfarm tomorrow before deciding whether to allow the developer to almost double its size.
The Forss Windfarm in Caithness, owned by Renewable-energy giant RES, is located on part of the former US Navy site at Forss, five miles north-west of Thurso and two miles north-east of Dounreay.
The company was first granted planning permission in 2001 for two turbines and they became operational two years later.
In 2006, it was granted planning permission to add four turbines to the site.
But plans to extend the windfarm for a second time by a further five turbines were rejected by a planning officer.
Now, members of the council’s planning review board will re-examine the proposal following a visit to the site.
In his report, which will go before members tomorrow, David Mudie, the council’s development manager, concluded the original decision to refuse the application had not been “unjustified”.
He said: “The reasons for refusal are on the whole well grounded. It is clear that the recommendation and ultimately the decision has not been taken lightly.”
Mr Mudie added the officer had based his conclusions on the development’s effect on landscape and visual amenity, which he found was “unacceptable”.
The company’s development project manager, Graeme Kerr, said yesterday: “We have a significant commitment to Caithness and want to expand our value to the local economy.
“We particularly want to ensure the communities close to the Forss windfarm benefit, but we’ve also been instrumental in seeing jobs go to local people, with the maintenance of the turbines for instance.
“Scouts, young farmers, school pupils and other community causes have been supported by RES and we will do more.”
