Plans for a wind farm at Nathro Hill, near Brechin, have been shelved, it has been reported.

The developers, Eurowind UK, had submitted an application to install 17 turbines, up to 470ft tall, on a site on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park.

If constructed, the 61MW scheme would have been the largest of its kind in the area.

The plans had drawn a number of local objections; both the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Scotland had voiced concerns over potential interference with radar systems at RAF Leuchars, and the local golden eagle population, respectively, but they withdrew their opposition after Eurowind addressed their concerns. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) also objected to the plans, arguing that the development would have affected views both into the national park and from it.

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David Gibson, Chief Officer of the MCofS, said: "We welcome the news that the developer has withdrawn this ill-advised development. Given its proximity to the Cairngorms National Park it should never have been lodged in the first place and we would have opposed it at every stage."

(JP/MH)