Decision due over Donald Trump wind farm battle

Updated

US presidential candidate Donald Trump is waiting for a Supreme Court ruling after mounting a legal fight against an offshore wind farm project near his Scottish golf resort.

Scottish Government ministers approved proposals for an 11-turbine scheme off the Aberdeenshire coast in 2013.

Mr Trump, president of the Trump Organisation, says the wind farm will spoil the view from his luxury golf links at the Menie Estate.

The Supreme Court analysed the case at a hearing in London in October - after the businessman had twice lost fights in Scottish courts.

And a panel of Supreme Court justices is due to publish today.

Mr Trump has said he will pull the plug on plans to further develop the resort near Balmedie if the wind farm project goes ahead.

The European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) project is a joint venture by Vattenfall Wind Power and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group, which says the turbines would yield enough electricity to power 68,000 UK households over a year.

Lawyer Shabana Anwar, who is based at law firm Bircham Dyson Bell and specialises in planning laws for energy projects, said Mr Trump could carry on his fight in Europe if he loses.

"The project, which is expected to generate enough electricity to power 68,000 UK households a year, may finally go ahead if the Supreme Court rejects Trump's challenge," she said

"A decision to this effect will be a relief for the Scottish Government, but Mr Trump may still not give up just yet. He has one last avenue open to him, the option of taking his case to the European Court - which he has threatened to do in the past."

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