Wind farm plans in Northamptonshire are approved by inspector  

Credit:  BBC News, www.bbc.co.uk 22 December 2011 ~~

Proposals for a wind farm near a Northamptonshire battlefield site have been approved by a planning inspector.

Six turbines measuring 415ft (126m) could be built to the north of Haselbech near the 1645 Naseby site.

Councillors in Daventry District had thrown out the project, but the developers, E.ON, appealed.

Planning inspector Paul Griffiths, who overturned the decision, said the turbines would introduce a “modern element” to the area.

In a report, he said their presence “would detract from the significance of the battlefield and harm its setting”.

‘Destroy environment’

But he added that the turbines “would occupy a limited part of the field of view”.

Residents had opposed the application saying it could ruin Naseby and nearby Kelmarsh Hall

John Nickleson said: “I think it will destroy the environment in a small English village which is at the moment untouched.

“There are so many other places it could have been placed, like on the other side of the road.”

A spokesman from E.ON said: “We firmly believe our proposal represents the right technology, in the right location, to ensure energy security and combat climate change.”

The company said it wants to work closely with the community as they put the plans together.