A planning application for a new wind farm in Caithness has been approved by the Highland Council.

The north planning committee voted to approve plans for a 15-turbine scheme at Halsary Forest, near Watten.

The development will see 15 turbines erected with an installed capacity of up to 34.5 megawatts (MW), located 15km south of Thurso in Caithness. Halsary Windfarm will be ScottishPower Renewables' most northerly project in the UK.

The firm began developing Halsary in 2008, and since submitting the original application in November 2009, has continued to work closely with a wide range of stakeholders and consultees to refine the project in response to feedback received.

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Simon Christian, UK Managing Director of ScottishPower Renewables, said: "We are very pleased to receive consent to construct and operate Halsary Windfarm, a project we have been carefully planning for five years.

"As a responsible developer of renewable energy, we have continued to work with the local community, Highland Council and key environmental stakeholders, listening to feedback and making refinements to the project's design.

"Halsary will now be scheduled for construction and will add to our exiting operational Beinn Tharsuinn Windfarm, and to the marine energy projects we have in the early stages of development in the Caithness region."

At the same meeting, Councillors rejected plans for RWE Npower Renewables' 13 turbines at Bad a Cheo, Spittal, while a decision on Whirlwind Renewables' five turbines at West of Mybster Farm, Spittal, was deferred.

Councillors are to visit the proposed sites before meeting to discuss the projects.

(JP/CD)