Mochrum Fell wind turbines approved on appeal

An eight-turbine wind farm in Dumfries and Galloway which attracted nearly 600 objections has been approved on appeal.

Falck Renewables is behind the plans at Mochrum Fell, west of Corsock and north-east of Parton.

Dumfries and Galloway Council refused the application in June last year.

The decision was against the advice of planning officers and the company appealed to the Scottish government which has now overturned the rejection.

An earlier plan to build 11 turbines on the site was rejected by the council, which said it was out of character with the surrounding landscape.

'Detrimental impact'

However, when revised plans returned to the authority last year they were recommended for approval with a string of conditions.

The council's planning applications committee still found they would have a "significant detrimental impact on the surrounding area, its landscape character and visual amenity" and rejected them again.

The company appealed against that decision and it has now been successful.

A Scottish government reporter concluded there were "no material considerations" which justified refusal.

He added that the council had acted in an "unreasonable manner" but that this has not caused the company unnecessary costs and therefore declined to award them any expenses.