Haf Elgar of Friends of the Earth Cymru was deliberately misleading when she quoted the 2007 report by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Oxford Brookes University which she claims shows that wind “farms” have no effect on property price (Letters, May 23).
The end of that very limited report actually said that, “as more wind farms are built, more property will become proximate. Therefore, a cautious approach should be adopted…”.
A previous, much more extensive survey of its members by RICS (2004) concluded that “60% of the sample suggested that wind farms decrease the value of residential properties where the development is within view…”.
This is now reflected in the fact that a council tax discount may be given for “Property affected by the proximity of an electricity generating wind turbine”. (Hansard, May 13, 2008).
Dr JOHN ETHERINGTON
Llanhowell, Pembrokeshire.
Western Mail
29 may 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/06/01/values-are-affected/