Major Highland wind farm given go-ahead after legal battle
The 67-turbine Stronelairg project will power 114,000 homes, according to developers SSE.
A 67-turbine wind farm in the Highlands has been given the go-ahead following a legal battle.
Plans for the Stronelairg wind farm were thrown into doubt last year when judges ruled the Scottish Government was wrong to [approve the development](http://will generate enough electricity to power 114,000 homes) near Fort Augustus.
They concluded ministers did not follow the proper planning process and broke environmental regulations.
That decision has now been overturned at the Court of Session.
A spokesman for SSE said: "We welcome the ruling of the Court of Session on the appeal of the Stronelairg judicial review.
"Situated in a natural upland bowl, Stronelairg will not be seen from the Great Glen's key tourist routes, will be entirely invisible from Loch Ness and will utilise the extensive existing infrastructure at our Glendoe hydro scheme.
"The ruling today has brought good news to a project that would bring significant benefits to the local and wider economy."
SSE originally wanted to build 83 turbines at the Garrogie Estate but that number was reduced to 67 in agreement with Highland Council in 2013.
The energy firm says the wind farm will generate enough electricity to power 114,000 homes and will contribute £30m to the local economy.
The John Muir Trust said it was "extremely disappointed" by the decision and was taking further legal advice.
A spokesman said: "We took out this legal action reluctantly because of the sheer scale of the development proposed by SSE in an area of wild land, the potential ecological damage to a vast area of peatland, and the breadth of opposition - which included Scottish Natural Heritage, the Cairngorms National Park Authority, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, and three out of four local councillors.
"Objectors outnumbered supporters of the application by 15 to one.
"We are confident that we did the right thing by challenging this decision - standing up against a scheme that could industrialise and decimate a precious area of wild Scotland."