Councillors in Scotland have voted to reject a controversial giant windfarm on the edge of the UK’s biggest national park. Members of the Highland Council voted against the proposed Allt Duine development by nine votes to three at a hearing today.

The proposal by RWE Npower Renewables Limited would see 31 turbines of 125m/410ft – taller than Nelson’s column – constructed within sight of some of the highest mountains in Britain. The decision by the councillors will now trigger a public inquiry overseen by the Scottish Government to assess the merits of the scheme.

Earlier today the councillors had travelled up to the 3,600ft-high Cairngorm plateau via the Cairngorm Mountain Railway, a site 10 miles away from the location of the proposed development, to assess the visual impact it would have.

The view from Cairn Gorm across the River Spey to the hills beyond would be one of many affected by the development. According to a survey by scotland-landscapes.com, the full heights of the turbines would be visible from the country’s second, third and sixth highest summits, and on clear days could be visible from as far away as the remote Fisherfield and Fannichs ranges.

The scheme had been recommended for approval by the councils’ own planning officials.

Objections to the proposed windfarm had previously been lodged by the John Muir Trust, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS), the Cairngorms National Park Authority and local estates. It also sparked a campaign opposing it called Save the Monadhliath Mountains (SMM), backed by TGO’s Editor at Large Cameron McNeish and TGO’s Gear Editor Chris Townsend.

Chris, a spokesman for SMM and former president of the MCofS, said: "After months of tireless campaigning and securing large scale public support, we’re pleased that the Highland Council Area planning committee has objected to the Allt Duine wind farm proposal.

"A huge amount of Scottish natural heritage is at stake and it is crucial that the proposal is assessed thoroughly. The only way to guarantee a meticulous assessment is for the application to be heard at a full Public Inquiry undertaken by the Scottish Government.

"Despite today’s formal objection, this is only the beginning of a long process and we will carry on working with our membership to protect this area of unspoilt natural beauty."

Steven Turnbull, policy officer for the John Muir Trust said: "This is a sensible decision by the council which demonstrates an appetite for protecting wild land within the region. We’re pleased that the application will now have to face a full public local inquiry, which is vital to fully determine its impacts.

"If approved this 31-turbine development would have a devastating effect on the Monadhliath Mountains, an important area of wild land.”