New technology was used to show councillors the visual impact of wind turbines when determining an application yesterday.
Members of the south planning committee watched an interactive panoramic viewpoint showing how the Beinneun windfarm near Invergarry will look alongside other developments.
Traditionally councillors are given photographs with turbines digitally built into the landscape, and often carry out site visits ahead of deliberating on applications.
At yesterday’s committee planning officer Simon Hindson used the digital technology to show councillors how the site will look through 270 degrees from a nearby viewpoint.
However, he had to warn members about the potential for motion sickness as he moved the camera from side to side.
The viewpoint showed how the windfarm will appear alongside neighbouring development, the existing Millennium windfarm, which has 20 turbines.
It also showed turbines further afield which are yet to be constructed, such as the Corriegarth and Beinn Mhor developments near Fort Augustus and Tomich respectively.
Yesterday the committee agreed to allow developer Blue Energy to use longer turbine blades when construction gets underway at the site.
Permission was granted for 25 turbines on Meall Dubh in 2012 by the Scottish Government, who will also have the final say on whether the turbine heights could be increased to 438ft, rather than the original 433ft.
The committee also heard yesterday that a separate application had also been made to add seven more turbines to the site, but that will be considered separately later.
Blue Energy say that the longer blades are more efficient than the length they currently have permission to use.
Local ward member Councillor Margaret Davidson said she had no objection to the longer blades – and praised the new approach to presenting the impact on the landscape.
She said: “I’m very impressed by the new way of looking at the viewpoints.
“That will be very useful as it now seems we have to consider the cumulative visual impact of every windfarm and this is a good way of doing it.”