A £10million plan to build a three turbine wind farm at Sorbie Farm north of Ardrossan Hill has been approved by North Ayrshire Council.

The company behind the project – 2020 Renewables Ltd – says the new facility will bring economic benefits to the area and a community benefit package worth around £34,000 a year for the 25 year life of the project.

The three turbines will be 104.3 metres high and a total capacity of around 7MW.

For every year of operation, the windfarm will provide enough clean electricity to power over 3,500 homes resulting in an annual displacement of over 7,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Managing Director of 2020 Renewables Ltd Alan Baker said: “We are delighted that North Ayrshire Councils Local Review Body has approved our application to develop Sorbie Wind Farm.

“Although it is a relatively small development it will result in a number of economic benefits to the local community both during the construction phase, for local contractors, and longer term through the community benefit fund.” Although not a material consideration for the Planning Applications Committee decision, 2020 Renewables commitment to community benefit will result in around £850,000 over the life of the project.

The company plans to start construction work at the Sorbie Wind Farm by the middle of 2015.