The company behind the biggest windfarm planned for Angus has upped its financial offer to the community.
Renewables developer Eurowind said it would make a revised community payout that could reach £1.4 million per annum for the 25-year lifespan of the Nathro Hill project in Glen Lethnot, north-west of Brechin.
Last year Eurowind had offered the option of either a community benefit fund or a joint venture whereby a community body would own a 1/17th share in the 17 turbine project.
However, following consultation with surrounding communities, the developer has now decided to offer both a fund and a joint venture option together.
The fund, which would be shared among surrounding properties, would be equivalent to £5,000 for every megawatt of installed wind capacity of the 60 MW windfarm.
Linked with a joint venture, Eurowind said this could provide a net profit to the community of more than £700,000 a year in the early stages of the windfarm’s life, rising to around £1.4m a year in later stages.
Scottish ministers will determine the fate of the 17-turbine proposal, which would generate more than 60 megawatts and almost 40 jobs.
Angus Council has lodged an objection to the plans.
Eurowind director Ian Lindsay said: “This is a transformational opportunity for local communities to harness the exceptional wind resource of the area to secure a future for generations to come.
“Nathro Hill is one of the best sites in the country for a windfarm, so a project on this scale should be able to offer the gold standard of partnership working and community benefit.
“Our ongoing discussions with surrounding communities have been very positive but there was a strong call for a benefit fund alongside a joint venture which we have now answered.
“We will be continuing negotiations in the coming months, aiming for a formal partnership that will serve the 25-year life-span of the project should it be consented.”
It is expected that up to 39 full-time equivalent jobs would be required to operate and maintain the project, which would generate a further £15.5 million to the local economy during its lifespan.
In March, Angus councillors voted to submit a formal objection to the £80m scheme on grounds that the visual and landscape impact would be too great.
The decision followed comments from the UK’s leading wild land and conservation charity, the John Muir Trust, which said the area for the proposed development was “sacrosanct”.
Bird charity RSPB Scotland withdrew its objection after concerns over the impact on golden eagle populations were addressed.