Councillors have deferred a decision on a controversial windfarm in order to inspect the site for themselves.
Members of Highland Council’s north planning committee debated the 22 turbine Creag Riabhach scheme which is planned for Altnaharra Estate in central Sutherland.
But they will now visit the site in the coming weeks before taking a final decision before their meeting next month.
Scottish Government ministers will take the final decision on the scheme, which involves 410ft tall turbines west of the A836 about 12 miles north of Lairg.
Committee charwoman Isobel McCallum said: “This is an area designated for wild land, which we have not had too much experience of.
“I think it would be useful and appropriate to have a site visit.”
However, some members of the committee were not as keen on the visit due to the time it would take.
Councillor Maxine Smith called for the decision to be taken at the committee meeting yesterday.
However, the committee voted 9-7 in favour of deferring the decision.
The developer Creag Riabhach Wind Farm Ltd say that a number of residents and community councils have supported their scheme.
If approved, community benefit of £9million has been pledged during the 25 years of the turbines.
Tim Philpot, director of Creag Riabhach Wind Farm Ltd, said: “We are pleased that councillors will be taking the time to come to Altnaharra to see the village, working estate, and our proposed site for themselves before determining our application.
“We believe that this will allow them to better understand our proposals and we look forward to continuing to work with the council as the application progresses.”
The John Muir Trust environmental charity is urging the council’s north planning committee to reject the proposal because it would straddle a large tract of wild land.
Concerns have also been aired by organisations including Scottish Natural Heritage, VisitScotland, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Mountaineering Council of Scotland.
SNH has warned that it would “significantly and adversely affect wild land,” while VisitScotland is concerned about its potentially negative impact on tourism.
Yesterday the planning committee also approved plans by Scottish Power Renewables to increase the height of planned turbines in Caithness by nearly 40ft.
The 15 turbine Halsary windfarm near Watten was approved in 2013.
The developer will now be allowed be build tubines standing 367ft, compared to the originally consented 328ft.