A windfarm developer has plans in motion for up to 40 turbines on the border of Angus and Aberdeenshire.
The Glen Dye development, on the Fasque and Glendye Estate, would be around three miles from Fettercairn and 5.5 miles from Edzell, in the Aberdeenshire Council area.
Developer Coriolis Energy Limited has submitted a scoping report to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents and Development Unit, with a section 36 application likely to be submitted in spring next year.
Each turbine would be up to 150 metres from ground to blade tip according to the scoping report, on behalf of Glendye Wind Farm Limited.
A study area will extend from Aberdeen in the north to Forfar in the south, with Glendoll Forest and Stonehaven to the west and east respectively.
And landscape sensitivity will be assessed from views including the Fettercairn Conservation Area, the White Caterthun hillfort, Edzell Golf Course, and the A90 at Laurencekirk.
An incoming environmental impact assessment will detail the extent of bird life in the area, including golden eagle activity.
The report states: “RSPB detail that there is a single golden eagle nest within 10 kilometres of the estate boundary (at an unspecified location), whilst golden eagle activity to the north of the site was also reported by the RSPB during pre-scoping discussion.
“However, golden eagle activity on and around the site has not been as high as might have been expected.
“The site has been found to contain potentially sensitive nesting species such as merlin, black grouse and golden plover.
“However, survey results to date have not identified any further species of note nesting and breeding on site.”
Local community councils will be consulted as part of the planning process.