Plans to build an offshore wind farm near Donald Trump's golf course in Aberdeenshire have been put back.

Mr Trump has previously claimed the £230m European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) would spoil the view from his Menie golf course. He has previously said he wants the decision to approve the project overturned.

In a statement, the company behind the 11-turbine development Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm Limited (AOWFL) has said the schedule for the project has been "amended to help secure the development's future".

The firm now expects to connect the wind farm in two years time, with a view of connecting to the grid in 2017.

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It said the changes to the schedule takes into account the continuing onshore planning issues as well as existing legal challenges to the offshore consent.

Peter Wesslau, UK Country Manager for Vattenfall and a Director of AOWFL, explained: "As with any development of this nature, the project partners continuously review its progress and this includes building in scope for all possible eventualities.

"As part of this process, the project partners have always been aware that its aspirations to generate first power by late 2015 might not be in step with the progress of the project and indeed, that of the industry.

"Therefore, in the best interests of the project, we have worked to successfully modify the grid connection date. We will also explore opportunities for an earlier grid connection than 2017 in step with the progress of EOWDC, which is recognised by industry as strategically important to accelerating the offshore wind industry across Scotland, the UK and Europe – particularly in the current, challenging economic climate."

(JP/IT)