Onshore wind farm approved by planning inspector (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Onshore wind farm approved by planning inspector

10:20am Friday 20th November 2009

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CONTROVERSIAL plans for a wind farm between Clacton and St Osyth have been approved following a public inquiry.

N-Power Renewables has been given permission to build five 125m high turbines at Earls Hall Farm, in St John's Road.

Tendring Council’s planning committee voted unanimously against the proposals for the area's first onshore wind farm last year, but the company appealed and a planning inquiry was held in July.

Planning inspector Paul Griffith today said: “Like almost any wind farm proposal, I believe that the scheme would cause a degree of harm to the character and appearance of the appeal site itself and the landscape in the immediate vicinity, but this impact would reduce with distance.

“Moreover, the nature of that landscape, and other factors, would offer a considerable degree of mitigation. There would be no undue cumulative impact.

“Overall, therefore, I consider that the impact on the landscape would not be significantly harmful.”

He added: “In my view, that is the situation in this case and I consider that the positive aspects of the proposal clearly outweigh the negative aspects.”

At the inquiry, campaign group Staple (South Tendring Acting to Protect our Local Environment), said the wind farm would tower over its surroundings and would be too close to homes.

The scheme will generate enough electricity to power 5,500 to 6,000 homes.

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