A conservation organisation’s second attempt to halt the construction of a wind farm in Aberdeenshire has been dismissed by the Court of Session. Wildcat Haven’s appeal against the approval of Vattenfall’s Clashindarroch II wind farm project was rejected, following an earlier dismissal of their judicial review.
The Swedish energy company Vattenfall received approval from the Scottish government in June 2023 for the Clashindarroch II project, which involves the construction of 14 wind turbines near Huntly. Wildcat Haven, concerned about the potential impact on the local wildcat population, challenged this decision through legal means.
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The conservation group argued that the new development could have “potentially catastrophic” effects on the critically endangered Scottish Wildcat population in the area. Their legal representatives contended that Scottish ministers had not adhered to proper legal standards in approving the project.
However, the judges at the Court of Session disagreed with Wildcat Haven’s arguments. In their ruling, they stated: “We identified no misinterpretation of policy nor error of law in the decision-making process.”
Vattenfall, which already operates a wind farm in the forest area, welcomed the court’s decision. The company has maintained that it has taken wildcat protection into account in its development plans.
A spokesperson for Vattenfall previously stated: “Our existing wind farm in the forest has already been generating electricity for over eight years with no negative impact on the wildcat population, where we have improved the habitat to provide further cover for the wildcats to hunt and roam.”
Despite the setback, Wildcat Haven remains committed to its cause. The organisation 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.”
As the project moves forward, it will likely face continued scrutiny from environmental groups concerned about its impact on local ecosystems.
