A CONTROVERSIAL £36 million windfarm in the hills above Greenock could be blown off course after council officials recommended the planning application be refused.

Developers 2020 Renewables want to build eight 110-metre (360ft) tall turbines on land to the north and east of Corlic Hill, between Greenock and Port Glasgow.

More than 700 people have objected to the proposals, with just one letter of recommendation received to date.

Now Inverclyde planning chiefs have nailed their colours to the mast and came out against the plans — mainly due to the negative visual impact the windfarm would have on the district.

It comes ahead of a crunch planning board hearing in Greenock Town Hall tomorrow, when councillors will consider the application.

Officials are urging members to refer the matter to a full council meeting with a recommendation that it be refused.

It is a major blow for Greenock-based firm 2020, who scaled their plans down from 10 to eight turbines in a bid to win support for the project.

But bosses say they won’t give up without a fight and will argue their case during a 15-minute pitch at tomorrow’s meeting.

Alan Baker, managing director of 2020 Renewables, said: “We look forward to robustly defending our proposed windfarm at the forthcoming planning hearing.

“In particular, we will be emphasising the positive aspects which have been underplayed in the report.

“These include the fact that the scale of the windfarm has been reduced; there are now only eight turbines and Scottish Natural Heritage are not objecting.

“We are promoting a £36m investment in Inverclyde with a legally binding community benefit pot of £3m. We are also committed to continuing our ringfenced funding for Greenock Morton Charitable Trust for their coaching programme and have held recent discussions with the new chief executive at Ferguson’s on establishing a renewables apprenticeship programme.

“Our project is worthy of support on environmental grounds and on economic investment grounds.” But in a 27-page report about the development, Stuart Jamieson, Inverclyde’s head of regeneration and planning, outlines major concerns about the proposal.

He said: “This application, despite the applicant’s attempts to absorb the windfarm into the landscape, still remains visually prominent to the detriment of the character of the landscape.

“The applicant has chosen a site of extreme visual prominence at the top of a rolling hills landform overlooking towns and in one of the most scenic areas of Scotland.

“The windfarm would be a dominant and incongruous feature of the skyline, as viewed from parts of Greenock, Kilmacolm and the wider Clyde Estuary.

“It would visually dominate the northern reaches of the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, to the detriment of the perception and recreational enjoyment of this part of the park.

“It is also clear from the consultation responses that there remain safety concerns as to how the proposed windfarm would impact on the safe operation of Glasgow Airport and en-route air traffic.” Airport bosses are among those expected to attend tomorrow’s hearing. Other high-profile objectors include North Ayrshire and Argyll and Bute councils, National Air Traffic Services, City Design Co-operative Ltd — Inverclyde Council’s landscape consultants, and Historic Scotland.

Mr Jamieson says the application is in breach of seven key policy areas — something supported by Depute Provost David Wilson, who has publicly declared his opposition to the windfarm.

Councillor Wilson chairs the planning board and would normally be unable to comment on an application but he can do so on this occasion because he has declared an interest in the matter, and will take no part in discussions on it.

Mr Wilson said: “I think the officers’ recommendation is very, very strong. They have recommended refusal on seven different, strong grounds.

“Where you have an application with more than 700 against and one in favour it speaks for itself. It’s a very powerful recommendation.” Plans show the turbines would be seen from as far afield as Kilcreggan and Dumbarton Castle.

The Tele previously revealed how the turbines would be taller than Big Ben at 96 metres — and around two-thirds the height of the 158-metre tall Blackpool Tower.