LOCAL OPPOSITION HAS forced a rethink on plans for a Moray wind farm resulting in developers reducing their plans by almost half.
Councillors have approved a new proposal to create six turbines at Meikle Hill to the south-east of Dallas but only after the developers scrapped their original plans to create 10 turbines on the site.
Planning and regulatory services committee members were told that Edinburgh-based Brookfield Renewables Ltd had managed to “quell public resistance” to their scheme which they say would produce more than £1.7million in community benefits.
Committee chairman, Councillor Chris Tuke, said: “The developer has taken account of visual impact problems by moving the wind farm further back into the interior of the land.”
There were 17 objections to the scheme when it was first raised last year – but all had been removed after the number of proposed turbines was reduced by the developers.
Project manager for the company said: “The positive outcome demonstrates that councillors have accepted the merits of our proposals and the work we have undertaken with both the council and the community.
“We would like to thank local residents for their continued support and engagement with the Meikle Hill project and we look forward to further developing our relationship throughout the construction and operational phases.”
While the original objections had been removed there were still 21 objections lodged against the plans – but 65 messages of support for the plans were also lodged.