September 21, 2012
England

Court battle to stop wind farm approval

By Sophie Scott | Herald & Post | www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk 21 September 2012

A legal challenge has been submitted to the High Court against planning permission for a wind farm.

South Northamptonshire Council (SNC) initially refused permission for the Spring Farm Ridge proposal but in July it was given consent on appeal.

The plan, put forward by Broadview Energy Limited, would include five turbines on land between Helmdon and Greatworth.

The council believes it would have a major impact on the landscape and heritage assets that are within 5km of the proposed site.

The authority started legal proceedings last month under sections 66 and 72 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

Councillor Stephen Clarke, chairman of the development control committee, said: “Wind energy is important but it has to be in the right place and should not have a negative impact on the community or the countryside, and we believe this was not taken fully into account at the appeal.

“It is our view that the inspector disregarded the local landscape policies that protect our heritage in favour of the national policies contained within the National Planning Policy Framework that promotes the use of renewable resources.

“We believe that the inspector did not follow the provision of the law when considering the balance between heritage and renewable energy and failed to have ‘special regard’ for the desirability of preserving the listed buildings and conservation areas which the law requires.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/09/21/court-battle-to-stop-wind-farm-approval/