Viking windfarm appeal to be heard in February

Four months will pass before an appeal by Scottish Ministers against the decision to quash consent for the Viking Energy windfarm will be heard.

The ruling made last month by Lady Clark of Calton in relation to the massive development will come under scrutiny at the Court of Session in February.

A short statement released this afternoon from Sustainable Shetland said it would consult its members about its next step. It is highly likely the pressure group will seek to challenge the appeal.

The judge ruled last month that consent for the 103-turbine development was incompetent and should not have been granted.

Viking Energy Partnership did not have a licence to generate electricity, Lady Clark stated, so should not have been granted consent. Scottish ministers also failed to take account of their obligations under the European birds directive when considering the application, she said.

However the Scottish government has launched an appeal for an urgent disposal of the case. Ministers are appealing on both grounds over which consent was quashed.

In his statement Sustainable Shetland’s chairman Frank Hay said: “The appeal by Scottish ministers against the decision of Lady Clark of Carlton to reduce the decision to grant consent to the proposed Viking windfarm on Shetland is scheduled to be heard by the Inner House of the Court of Session in a hearing commencing in late February.

“Sustainable Shetland will consult with its members as to their course of action.”

The appeal will begin in late February and is likely to continue into March.