More than a week after their application to build the largest onshore wind farm was refused, the developers say they are continuing to survey their options.

A spokesperson for LWP said this week: "With regards to the decision, we are currently still exploring all our options following the announcement. We are seeking a meeting with the Minister and naturally wish to review the situation."

The Scottish Government confirmed that a meeting would take place next week but said the Minister would be unable to discuss any specifics of applications with LWP as he may have to determine them in the future.

Openly stressing their disappointment with the refusal of the LWP application last week, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are hailing this latest development as a positive step.

A spokesperson said: "The Comhairle welcomes the continuing interest of the Minister and the developer in discussing options for renewable energy development in the islands."

The Comhairle are also keen to pursue other opportunities and say they are actively looking for fresh ideas to take forward.

Speaking after a meeting of the Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership last week, Convenor Alex Macdonald said: "Although the Energy Minister, Jim Mather, made encouraging noises that the Western Isles is not out of the Scottish Renewable Energy picture, it is now time for the Government and those representing the Western Isles in Westminster and Edinburgh to come forward with fresh proposals to sustain and re-energise the economy of the Western Isles. The Scottish Government needs to be more proactive in helping The Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership to address the serious socio-economic issues facing the Islands at this particular time".

In further reaction to last week's refusal, Ullapool based group Highlands Before Pylons (HBP), say the announcement does not affect their campaign and that they were in actual agreement with LWP on their proposal to lay a subsea cable directly to the south of England.

The group have been campaigning against the erection of pylons in the area - and had originally thought that an link from the Lewis Wind Farm would land at Loch Broom.

Commenting this week, Paul Driver from the group said: "This is because the company behind the Barvas Moor wind farm favoured the concept of a long distance subsea cable direct to where the energy will be used in the south, and had not applied for permission to use Scottish and Southern Energy's link to Beauly. In this much at least, HBP finds itself in agreement with LWP, and the group continues to promote the benefits of subsea cables in taking surplus electricity from the Highlands and Islands both to the central belt of Scotland, and further south to England."