Proposals for the wind farm were first announced in 2003. An initial planning application was submitted to Aberdeenshire Council in December 2004 and a revised re-application was submitted two years later in order to reduce concerns raised by statutory consultees and local residents. In September 2007, Aberdeenshire Council refused the proposal, stating it would have an adverse impact on the landscape character of the area.

Aberdeenshire wind farm Project Manager Mark Crawford said: “We are delighted at this decision. This has been a long and challenging journey through the local planning system. Today’s result will now finally allow us to commit our efforts fully to aiding the Scottish Government’s target of producing 50% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020.”

The week-long public inquiry heard evidence from RWE npower renewables, Aberdeenshire Council, Cairngorms National Park Authority and Kildrummy Windfarm Action Group (KWAG).

Mark Crawford added: “We were profoundly disappointed when Aberdeenshire Council refused the application, but we have always been confident that the project is well-sited, complies with planning policy and will have an acceptable visual effect on the local landscape”.