RSPB slams wind farm approval in ‘extremely sensitive’ wildlife site

A plan for 39 wind turbines in a special protection area (SPA) and Ramsar site in the north of Scotland has been approved by Scottish ministers, despite fears over its impact on important bird species.

The application, by energy company SSE, was originally made in 2007, but revised several times following objections from nature regulator Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Highland Council. The company reduced the number of turbines from the initial proposal of 77, and opted to use taller turbines with a height to the tip of the blades of 135m instead of the original 110m.