The Highland Council has supported an application to build the world's largest offshore wind farm in the Outer Moray Firth.

The application by Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd will see the construction and operation of three offshore wind farms and its associated electricity transmission works.

Up to 339 turbines could be constructed across the three wind farms, located 22km from the Caithness coast.

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The consortium, which is a joint venture between European firms EDP Renewables (EDPR UK) and Repsol Nuevas Energias UK, claims up to one million homes could be supplied by the farms, in a project valued at £4.5bn.

Despite the Council's support to the plans, there are a number of conditions attached to the decision. One of these is to ensure the local fishing interests are represented on the project's liaison group.

The Scottish Government will have the final say on the application, but they had sought the Highland Council's view on the project.

Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd submitted plans for the project to government agency Marine Scotland last summer.

(JP)