The local authority was invited by the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents & Deployment Unit (ECU) to comment on SSEN Transmission’s planning application.

Councillors on the Planning & Regulatory Services Committee agreed that Moray Council would not lodge an objection to the application on planning grounds.

They are, however, asking the developers to pay towards facilities and infrastructure in the Moray region, and to agree to a suite of other planning conditions.

Elected members are requesting that the developers pay up to 10% of the scheme’s construction costs into a Socio Economic Fund (5%) and Local Community Benefit Fund (5%).

This Socio Economic Fund would be administered by the council for Moray-wide infrastructure and facilities, with the Local Community Benefit Fund typically set up for windfarm developer contribution payments.

As a consultee, the council will raise a list of further conditions with Scottish Ministers.

These include a detailed phasing plan, access strategy and detailed construction programme to be approved by the council.

Committee chair David Gordon said: “The developer’s contribution will maximise the local socio economic benefits of this development to the wider local community and the contributions being sought would be fair, accurate and proportionate to mitigate any impact of the development.”