A new £2 billion wind farm is to be built off the coast of Fife after the Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the scheme by RSPB Scotland.

The charity's application for leave to appeal against a decision in 2014 by Scottish Ministers to approve the 450MW Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) project was rejected by the Supreme Court today, 07 November.

RSPB Scotland was challenging the project over concerns it would have a significant impact on wildlife, stating thousands of resident and migratory seabirds were potentially at risk.

However, today's decision means construction of the 54-turbine can go ahead, with work expected to start in 2018.

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Andy Kinsella, Chief Executive Officer of Mainstream Renewable Power, said: "After more than two and a half years, two court hearings and two rejected applications for leave to appeal by RSPB Scotland, we can finally focus on delivering the very significant benefits this project brings to the Scottish economy and its environment.

"The NnG wind farm will displace 400,000 tonnes of CO2 each year. The RSPB has already delayed the project by two and a half years, during which time it could have displaced approximately 1 million tonnes of CO2, making a very significant contribution to the Scottish and UK Governments' energy and climate targets.

"Once constructed this £2bn project will be capable of supplying 325,000 homes – a city the size of Edinburgh – with clean energy.

Mr Kinsella added a study by the Fraser of Allander Institute shows the project will create 2,000 jobs each year during its four-year construction period, as well as hundreds of permanent jobs once operational, including bringing £827 million directly to the Scottish economy over its lifetime.

"We are delighted with the decision and look forward to working constructively with RSPB Scotland to take the wind farm into construction next year," Mr Kinsella said.

(LM)