A number of investigative works are to begin at the proposed site for a new wind farm off the coast of Aberdeen.

The site has been the subject of controversy and has been opposed by US businessman Donald Trump, the BBC has said.

The proposed development – which would cost £230m to construct – consists of 11 wind turbines and will provide enough energy to power more than 49,000 homes.

Following approval of the plans, exploratory drilling work will now take place at the site in order to determine what foundations can be used to help keep the structures in place and will involve a series of geotechnical boreholes being made between 2.5km and 4km off the north-east coast.

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The European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) project is a joint venture by utility company Vattenfall, engineering firm Technip and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (Areg).

Recently, Mr Trump, who owns a golf development in Aberdeenshire, challenged the Scottish Government's decision to proceed with the wind farm. He claimed the scheme would spoil the view from his Menie estate golf course. He added that his plans to build a 140-bedroom hotel at Menie would not go ahead until the wind farm development was scrapped.

In March, the Scottish Government approved consent for the project, which has also been awarded up to €40m of European funding.

(JP/CD)