Planning permission has been refused for a 23-turbine wind farm near Drumnadrochit.

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing confirmed he had rejected the proposed Druim Ba wind farm in the Blairmore Estate.

He said he agreed with the findings of the Public Inquiry Reporter that the number and height of the turbines would appear out of scale with the surrounding landscape, and would have a significant adverse landscape and visual impact.

There were also concerns that the visual impact from nearby properties, as well as the likely noise from the wind farm, would be detrimental to the residential amenities of several nearby properties.

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The original application submitted by Druim Ba Sustainable Energy Limited was for a 23-turbine, 69MW wind farm on Blairmore Estate in the Highlands.

The Planning Authority, the Highland Council, objected to the application saying that the developments conflicted with their planning policies, and the size and massing of the proposed wind farm would have vast visual impact on properties and communities.

Energy Minister Fergus 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."

(JP/CD)