Plans have been approved for a new 50-turbine wind farm in East Ayrshire and Galloway.

The 170MW South Kyle Wind Farm is being developed by Swedish energy group, Vattenfall.

As part of the scheme, Vattenfall will provide a community benefit fund of £5,000 per MW installed per annum over the operational lifetime of the wind farm. The project is also set to boost the region's local supply chain, with over 150 local businesses having registered their interest in the project.

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Guy Mortimer, Vattenfall's UK head of development for onshore wind, said: "This decision is good news for Scotland's climate change targets and for local people and businesses. The benefits of this project can be significant and wide ranging.

"Of course there is a long way to go before Vattenfall is able to construct and operate this wind farm, but if constructed, this will be a wind farm that we hope local people and businesses will take pride in.

"The Scottish Government's consent decision for this scheme is reassuringly robust. The wind farm proposal was scrutinised and carefully considered through a detailed public local inquiry in late 2015. As a result, this consent is a clear evidence-based decision that concludes South Kyle is an eminently acceptable proposal."

(LM)