In a long-running judicial review, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) applied to the Supreme Court for an appeal to the Court’s earlier decision. This application was refused last Wednesday (19th July).
“After more than two years and two court hearings, we hope that the RSPB acknowledges a fair hearing and allows us to get on with delivering the very significant benefits this project brings to the Scottish economy and its environment” said Andy Kinsella, Chief Operating Officer, Mainstream Renewable Power. “Once constructed this £2 billion project will be capable of supplying 325,000 homes – a city the size of Edinburgh – with clean energy. It will create more than 500 direct jobs during construction and over 100 direct permanent jobs once operational. £540 million will be directly invested in Scotland during the construction phase with a further £610m during the operational phase”.
The project originally received planning consent by Scottish Ministers in October 2014, on the advice of Scottish Natural Heritage and Marine Scotland. Mainstream Renewable Power says it has been rigorous throughout the project to work with partners and supply chain businesses to find the best possible way to deliver the project and that it is now looking forward to seeing the wind farm up and running.
Significant advances in the technology has enabled a reduction in the number of turbines from the 125 in the original consent application in 2012, to a maximum of 64. Work is expected to start on the project in 2018.
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