EDF Energy Renewables has been granted approval to excavate a borrow pit for it's wind farm development in Moray.

The 59-turbine Dorenell windfarm is being developed at the Cabrach in upland Moray.

The council has now granted EDF a two-year consent for digging and then restoring the pit at the wind farm site. However, three members voted against the application on the grounds that it would impact adversely on an landscape's area.

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It is anticipated that around 80,000 cubic metres of stone will be excavated. In addition, the planning committee was told the pit would provide most or all of the rock material required during the construction of the windfarm.

A report stated: "This would prevent the costly and unnecessary import of materials and large number of HGV movements to and from the site on the public road.

"While it is a large borrow pit and likely to host a period of intensive material extraction, it benefits from being in a remote location out of sight of any public roads or residences."

(LM/MH)