Appeal against wind farm ruling thrown out

A conservation group's legal bid to stop a wind farm in Aberdeenshire from going ahead has been dismissed for a second time.

In June last year, minsters approved Swedish energy giant Vattenfall's Clashindarroch II project.

Wildcat Haven challenged the Scottish government's decision at a judicial review, but a judge threw out the legal challenge, and Wildcat Haven then appealed that decision.

Judges at the Court of Session have now dismissed that resulting appeal.

Vattenfall has an existing wind farm in the forest.

Wildcat Haven claimed the new 14-turbine development would be "potentially catastrophic" for local wildcats.

Its lawyers argued that Scottish ministers failed to follow correct legal tests.

However, refusing the appeal, the Court of Session judges ruled: "We have identified no misinterpretation of planning policy nor any error of law in the decision-making process."

Vattenfall said it was a "welcome decision".

Wildcat Haven said in a statement: "Wildcat Haven maintains its position and belief that this is the wrong development at the wrong site and that if it were to go ahead, it would have potentially catastrophic impacts on the critically endangered Scottish Wildcat population.

"We will be reviewing the judgement in detail and will be continuing our fight to protect the priceless Clashindarroch wildcats and their forest home."