May 9, 2013
England

TCI Renewables resubmits controversial turbines bid

Diss Express | 9 May 2013 | www.dissexpress.co.uk

The controversial bid to build a wind farm in south Norfolk is back on the planning agenda.

TCI Renewables has now submitted a revised application to site three 126-metre wind turbines on land which is in four parishes in the Diss Express area.

The application comes after a Government inspector ruled last year in support of South Norfolk Council’s planning committee unanimously rejecting a first proposal on the site at Upper Vaunces Farm.

A spokesman for the Oxfordshire-based developer said its new wind farm layout addresses the key issues raised by the inspector, but a local protest group has argued that the new design has changed nothing.

Lucy Melrose, chairman of 4Villages, which comprises residents who are opposed to the bid, dismissed TCI Renewables’ plan to submit another bid as “cynical”.

She added: “This was always, and remains an inappropriate site. The so-called revised design has changed nothing.

“TCI is now going to waste more of our local taxpayers’ money by engaging South Norfolk Council in another round.”

TCI Renewables’ application to get planning permission to build on the land, which is in the parishes of Dickleburgh, Rushall, Pulham Market and Pulham St Mary, was originally rejected by the planning authority back in 2010.

The firm then decided to appeal the decision, leading to inspector Zoe Hill presiding over a lengthy and detailed inquiry into the turbines bid.

She noted that while planning policies weighed heavily in favour of renewable energy projects, TCI Renewables’ original wind farm submission fell down on key areas, such as the impact on nearby buildings.

The developer has now made location adjustments in its latest bid to try and resolve these issues.

The proposed wind farm would have an operational life of about 25 years.

It could produce enough energy to power about 4,000 homes annually.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/05/09/tci-renewables-resubmits-controversial-turbines-bid/