LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Landowners oppose green energy plans 

An energy company’s bid to site two giant wind turbines on the outskirts of Lowestoft has been strongly opposed by the family which owns an historic 6,700-acre country estate nearby.

Councillors will tomorroe (Wednesday) be asked to rule on an controversial planning application from SLP Energy to build two 80m turbines near the A12 at Kessingland.

The structures, about the same size as the famous Gulliver turbine in Lowestoft, would provide enough energy to power nearly 4,000 homes, but the owners of the historic Benacre estate say they will be an eyesore and have a negative impact on neighbouring land designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Unusually, planning officers at Waveney District Council have not recommended what members of the development control committee should decide.

Mike Horton, agent to the Benacre estate, said: “The estate is concerned that the development will be of considerable detriment to the AONB, which is only a few hundred yards away. The estate is not against renewable energy or wind turbines as such; it is just a matter of this location. We hope very much that the objections we have raised will be taken on board and the matter will be refused.”

The turbines, which SLP has estimated could provide power to about 7.75pc of Waveney’s households, would be sited at the Africa Alive wildlife park and at a site further to the west and adjacent to the A12.

The Benacre estate, owned by Sir Timothy and Lady Gooch, boasts a historic hall, three reservoirs, thousands of acres of farmland, a nature reserve and 15 listed buildings.

A report to members of the development control committee says: “The estate argues adverse impact on all of these features, together with impact on a new permissive footpath across the parkland to Benacre Church.”

The estate has employed the services of expert consultants The Landscape Partnership (TLP) to fight its corner and the report added: “In TLP’s assessment, the proposed turbines would contrast with the character of the AONB and the sense of tranquillity and timelessness that is typical of the local area.”

The report goes on to reveal that SLP Energy’s consultant, SLR Consulting, has issued a strong rebuttal of all of the objector’s criticisms.

It says: “SLR asserts that unlike the objectors who have misrepresented information and made unfounded assumptions, their assessment is independent and objective.”

As well as being given the options of approving or refusing the application, councillors have also been told they could defer their decision until a new Landscape Character Assessment has been prepared in early 2008.

The development control committee will meet from 6pm tonight at Lowestoft Town Hall.

By Alasdair McGregor

Eastern Daily Press

16 October 2007

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon