The UK’s Supreme Court dismissed the case against the 103-turbine development, meaning the project can move forward almost three years after the Scottish government granted planning consent to the joint venture between Viking Energy Shetland and SSE-subsidiary SSE Viking.
The chairman of Viking Energy, Alan Bryce said: “We can now concentrate on developing what would be one of the world’s most productive wind farms, to generate renewable energy and significant income for the Shetland community”.
Energy and planning lawyer at Pinsent Masons, Gary McGovern, said the dismissal of the appeal is welcome news for the Scottish Government and the Scottish renewables industry.
“Not least because the Viking project has strategic importance in the context of facilitating the subsea grid connection works which are necessary to maximise the renewable energy potential of the Shetland Islands,” McGovern added.
“The uncertainty hanging over the Viking decision for almost three years has had knock on effects for other projects in and around the Islands which have suffered delay but can now hopefully move forward,” he said.