Trust in deal over turbine pay out Legal dispute over wind farm

The John Muir Trust has paid out a settlement of £50,000 in a row over legal expenses relating to a wind farm development in the Highlands.

The Pitlochry-based charity has agreed to pay energy giant SSE the money as a settlement in a dispute over the Stronelairg wind farm.

It has also had to pay £75,000 to the Scottish Government over the case.

SSE had originally asked for £350,000 from the John Muir Trust, but has agreed the settled amount of £50,000 is reasonable.

The Highland Perthshire trust claimed the Stronelairg project, which will become one of the largest in the country with 66 turbines, would destroy a large area of wild land in the Highlands.

The charity is now calling for planning processes to be reformed following the out-of-court agreement.

Helen McDade, the trust’s head of policy, said: “We believed that this consent of a massive wind farm in the Monadhliath Mountains was the result of a defective planning process.

“The trust won the initial judicial review with the judge stating that the case was taken in the public interest.

“Losing the case at appeal more than doubled the trust’s potential liability and prevented us from continued action.

“The case highlighted in planning and legal circles the urgent need for planning reform.”

Ms McDade added the reduced settlement will encourage future environmental campaigns.

She continued: “... SSE were pursuing the trust for costs of £350,000, which would have been devastating for any environmental organisation and a deterrent for anyone that might consider seeking environmental justice in the future.

“Naturally the John Muir Trust is relieved to have negotiated to reach a much reduced settlement. The generosity of more than a thousand supporters means the trust could take this important case on behalf of people and nature. Undeterred, we will continue to stand up for wild places, while working towards a sustainable future.”

A spokesperson for Perth-based SSE confirmed: “SSE has accepted an out of court settlement, with the John Muir Trust, of £50,000 in relation to the expenses it incurred in the judicial review of the consent decision for Stronelairg wind farm, and sees this as an appropriate and reasonable conclusion to this matter.

“SSE is passing on the full amount of this settlement to Visit Inverness Loch Ness, which is a not-for-profit organisation in the Great Flen. The funds will be used to contribute towards the South Loch Ness Trail, which is a project to complete a walking and cycling trail round the whole of Loch Ness.

“SSE is committed to being a sustainable company, helping to achieve environmental, social and economic wellbeing for current and future generations

“This includes the appropriate development and delivery of renewable energy projects as an environmentally positive way of meeting people’s energy needs and addressing the key issue of climate change.”