Highland councillors back Outer Moray Firth wind farm plans

If given the go-ahead, the project could supply one million households

Highland councillors have given their backing to plans to build the world's largest offshore wind farm in the Outer Moray Firth.

Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd wants to construct up to 339 turbines across three offshore wind farms located 22km (13.5 miles) from the Caithness coast.

The consortium claims the £4.5bn project could supply up to one million households.

Planning conditions are attached to the councillors' decision.

One is that local fishing interests be represented on the project's liaison group.

Highland Council officers had recommended that the local authority's north planning applications committee raised no objection to the plans.

The Scottish government, which will have the final say on the planning application, had sought Highland Council's view on the project.

Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd submitted plans for the project to government agency Marine Scotland last summer.

The consortium is a joint venture between European firms EDP Renewables (EDPR UK) and Repsol Nuevas Energias UK.

The developers want to build between 189 and 339 turbines, with a maximum blade tip height of 204m, over a 295 sq km area.

The development would be capable of producing up to 1,500MW of power.

The world's largest operational offshore wind farm is the 175-turbine London Array.