Councillors are expected to back controversial plans to build a 260ft wind turbine near a north-east village despite a raft of local objections.
The application from Lonmay firm Oosterhof and Co to construct a turbine at Nether Hythie Farm, near Mintlaw, was first tabled in 2013.
Members of the Buchan area committee rebuffed the proposals three years ago, but now the council planning team is recommending that councillors back a fresh scheme, in the face of local objections.
The Ministry of Defence has also raised concerns that the project would cause “unacceptable interference” to its Buchan radar operation.
In a report to councillors – who will meet in Peterhead on Tuesday to vote on the proposals – infrastructure boss Stephen Archer said: “In principle, Aberdeenshire Council supports the installation of renewable energy facilities such as wind turbines.
“The proposal will have an impact on the character of the local area, both individually and cumulatively, and an impact from some viewpoints. However, this impact is on balance considered acceptable.”
Mr Archer said the objection raised by the MoD has been considered and that, if the committee granted planning permission next week, a deal to mitigate the interference with the radar could be struck with the developer.
But a total of 24 complaints from 16 different households were lodged during the public consultation period, raising a host of concerns including visual and environmental impact, noise and the effect on local wildlife.
In a letter to the council, objector Eric Taylor said: “I feel there are already enough wind turbines in the surrounding area and there is no need for one to be built at Nether Hythie, as this will set a precedent for others to be built.”
And in a separate objection, nearby resident Alison Chalmers said: “I do not believe anything has changed since the last time this application was submitted and refused in 2013.
“The area is already saturated with wind turbines. There were no turbines when I first moved here 10 years ago and now they dominate the area. Surely the cumulative impact is even worse today.”
