Donald Trump will launch a fresh legal challenge against an offshore wind project after the Scottish Government backed a crucial element of the scheme yesterday.
An appeal from developers behind the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) was upheld, overturning a local decision from Aberdeenshire Council to refuse planning permission.
Backers of the scheme welcomed the ruling, and said consent for the electricity substation to bring power onshore at Blackdog was “clearly a major milestone”.
Locals who had objected to the development were left in despair, however, while the Trump Organisation pledged the £230million scheme would spend “years” in the courts.
Mr Trump believes the windfarm would spoil views from his championship golf course at Menie Estate.
A statement from the organisation, which has already lost an appeal against the scheme at the highest court in Scotland, said: “It is a disgrace that the Scottish Government has recklessly disregarded the health and safety of the Blackdog residents and ignored the fears of Aberdeenshire Council.
“We intend to pursue a separate legal challenge to this decision and will continue to fight it in the Court of Session and beyond.
“This matter will be in court for many years to come.”
The EOWDC is due to connect to the National Grid in 2017, two years later than was originally forecast.
Locals had raised concerns over traffic and the presence of asbestos on the former landfill site.
In his report, Scottish Government reporter Michael Shiel said: “With regards to the contamination issue, I have concluded that the evidence indicates that the construction of the substations and cables would involve a low risk to public health and safety, and that appropriate mitigation measures can be taken to ensure that this is the case.”
Planning permission has been granted subject to 16 conditions.
EOWDC project director Andy Paine said: “The onshore works are an essential part of the EOWDC.
“Therefore this is good news for the offshore wind industry, which recognises the importance of the scheme to delivering the potential of the sector, and the north-east because it will contribute considerably to the region’s long-term prosperity and its drive to be a leader in sustainable energy.”
A leading campaigner against the electricity substation vowed to continue fighting the plans.
Nicola Brown, who spearheaded local opposition with fellow villager Edna Booth, said she was “absolutely gobsmacked” at the appeal decision.
Mrs Brown, who lives on Hareburn Terrace at the southern side of the site, said the Scottish Government reporter had “ignored” objections.
She also questioned the planning process after a decision by councillors in Aberdeenshire last year to refuse planning permission by 9-1 was overturned.
“I can’t believe it, I am lost for words,” she said.
“How can they just go against the council vote?
“They don’t have to live here, they won’t have to live with the traffic going by, they won’t have to sit here worrying that their kids will be breathing in asbestos.
“Will they guarantee our health?
“They have to guarantee the health of the whole village, as they have just overlooked our concerns – it seems like the Scottish Government is just hell-bent on these things.
“If there is anything else we can do to stop it, then we will do it.
“Obviously it depends on finances and we will have to meet to discuss it, but this won’t be the end of it.”
Campaigners formed the group, Protect Blackdog, and had lobbied local councillors on the Formartine area committee.
Residents repeatedly claimed there was asbestos in the former landfill site, which was confirmed after councillors deferred the application last April to allow further surveys to be carried out.
At a meeting in Ellon in October last year, the planning application was voted down. Relieved residents said afterwards they felt like they had been “listened to”.
Last night, EOWDC project director Mr Paine, added: “I think we have worked quite well with the local community, and it is our intention to continue that process.
“It is really important to remember that the Aberdeenshire planning officers actually recommended this for approval, I think that underlines our case.”
Mr Paine said, as a “responsible” developer, the consortium wanted to make sure that all the concerns of local residents were addressed.
He said the government appointed reporter had described the levels of contamination as “low” and noted the conditions attached to the planning consent.
Mr Paine said construction on site at Blackdog was scheduled to start in 2017.
“This is clearly a major milestone, and we can now move to the next stage,” he added.
Majority shareholder Vattenfall is still seeking an investor to take on its 75% stake in the project, but Mr Paine said interest is “strong” and could be boosted by an “additional level of certainty” from the latest planning decision.
He said he was confident the project would proceed, despite the continued legal challenge from the Trump organisation, and said there could be turbines in the North Sea by 2018.