Plans to build an 11-turbine wind farm near US businessman Donald Trump's luxury golf resort have moved a step closer after several organisations dropped their opposition to it.
Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (Areg) said RSPB Scotland, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), National Air Traffic Services (Nats) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had all lifted their objections to the site in Aberdeenshire, following discussions with the developers.
The MoD originally had concerns about air defence operations at RAF Buchan, and its objection was lifted subject to conditions to minimise impact during construction and operation of the wind farm.
Nats has agreed plans for the wind farm developers to invest in radar hardware.
Areg said RSPB Scotland's concerns about the impact the turbines would have on sensitive bird species were eased by studies which showed impact would be low and within acceptable limits.
Mr Trump branded the conditions "impossible to meet" and said the development was terrible for Scotland's tourism industry.
The billionaire is opposed to the offshore wind farm, claiming the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) will ruin the view for golfers at his course, which opened to the public in July.
Mr Trump has put plans for a hotel and houses on the Menie Estate on hold until a decision is made on the proposed wind farm off the coast of the Links.
"Scotland's magnificent landscape and environment will be destroyed and the Scottish people will subsidise this unfortunate process with their hard earned money for many years to come," he said.
"We will litigate this destructive project for as long as necessary."
