E.ON has announced that it is appealing against the refusal of Midlothian Council to grant planning permission for a wind farm of up to 45MW at Auchencorth Moss.

The initial planning application for the construction of 18 wind turbines on the site south of Penicuik was submitted in January 2006 and refused in February earlier this year.

Darren Cuming, E.ON's Onshore Origination Manager said: "We were disappointed in the decision made by Midlothian Council as we believe that Auchencorth Moss is the ideal location for the wind farm and a fantastic opportunity to help tackle the global threat of climate change.

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"We have carried out a series of independent reviews following the council's comments including a further detailed environmental assessment of the site. We are now satisfied that our proposal will comply with Scottish Government and Local Plan policy, with minimal impact on the environment and the local population."

The proposed scheme would provide enough clean, green energy to power up to 24,000 homes, which is over 60% of homes in Midlothian, and save over 43,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year.

If approval is granted by Midlothian Council, the area could expect to see a £5 million investment into the local and regional economies. The project would also contribute toward the Scottish Government's strategy to generate 40% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

The appeal is expected to go to a public inquiry with the outcome announced towards the end of next year.

(CD/JM)