Plans have been rejected for a proposed 17-turbine wind farm in Caithness.

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing refused consent today for the facility at Dunbeath Estate as he said the impact on the character of the nearby wild land was too great. He also said he had considered that the significant cumulative impacts from other nearby wind farms and adverse visual impacts would be too severe.

Falck Renewables had originally hoped to construct a 69MW, 23-turbine site, just south west of Wick, but this was reduced to 17 turbines after a number of revisions.

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The local planning authority, the Highland Council, did not object to the application in 2010, but Scottish ministers had the final decision on the application.

Mr Ewing said: "Scotland has enormous potential for renewable energy that is delivering jobs and investment across Scotland, and I am determined to ensure communities all over Scotland reap the benefit from renewable energy – but not at any cost and we will ensure a balanced approach in taking forward this policy, as we have in the past and will in future.

"The Scottish Government wants to see the right developments in the right places and Scottish planning policy is clear that the design and location of any wind farm should reflect the scale and character of the landscape and should be considered environmentally acceptable.

"The significant adverse impacts of this proposed wind farm on nearby wild land and key landscape characteristics in conjunction with the cumulative effects with other wind farms and visual impacts on recreational and road users is too great."

(JP/MH)