SSE and Scottish government to appeal court decision on windfarm

SSE and the Scottish government have confirmed they will appeal a court decision refusing consent to build the 240MW Stronelairg windfarm.

A review was sought following complaints from environmental charity, the John Muir Trust (JMT). Earlier this month a judge at the Court of Session ruled the government’s approval “defective” because it breached environmental obligations.

A statement from SSE called the decision “unlawful” and added: “Stronelairg is a carefully designed project sited on degraded peatland with the carbon payback estimated to be around 16 months.

“It will sit in a natural upland bowl, will not be seen from the Great Glen’s key tourist routes, and will be entirely invisible from Loch Ness. Stronelairg will utilise extensive existing infrastructure at our Glendoe hydro scheme.”      

Commenting on decision about the 67-turbine wind farm, a Scottish Government spokesman said: “Scottish ministers have considered the judgement of Lord Jones in relation to the petition lodged by the John Muir Trust for the judicial review of the Scottish ministers’ decision to grant consent to construct and operate the Stronelairg Wind Farm.

“Scottish ministers are appealing the decision.”

Stronelairg wind farm was originally granted approval last year by Scotland’s Energy Minister, Fergus Ewing.