August 14, 2014
England

EDF Energy scraps plans for massive wind farm in Torridge

By Nicole Travers-Wakeford, Holsworthy and area reporter | North Devon Journal | August 14, 2014 | www.northdevonjournal.co.uk

Plans for what could have been the largest wind farm in Torridge have been withdrawn by developers EDF Energy Renewables.

An application for a six-turbine wind farm to be situated to the east of the A388 between Launceston and Holsworthy was submitted to Torridge District Council in December 2012.

However, the company behind the development, EDF Energy Renewables, retracted its application last week.

The company’s Hollow Panson wind farm project was to comprise of six 115-metre tall machines on a site to the East of Chapman’s Well, near St Giles on the Heath.

This withdrawal follows a review of the development proposal by the company. EDF Energy Renewables has now asked Torridge not to take any further action in regards to the application.

However, the company will continue to carry out work on the proposed scheme with a view to submitting a revised application for the site.

Tim Wheeler, onshore wind development manager at EDF Energy Renewables, said: “We take the utmost care with our site selection and after a review of our original proposal we have decided not to proceed with it in its current form.

“Considerable environmental, landscape and visual analysis work has already been undertaken on the proposed site and we still believe it has the potential to provide an appropriate location for a wind farm.

“We therefore intend to continue with our investigations and refine our proposal with a view to making a new planning application for a revised scheme.”

Penny Mills, chairman of CPRE Devon said the group was pleased about the withdrawal.

She said: “This wind farm would have had a massive impact on the countryside and landscape for miles around and on the people who live nearby. It would have fundamentally and adversely changed the outlook and amenity of many homes with both a visual and noise impact.”

Mrs Mills said there were another 28 wind turbines currently in planning in Torridge and 16 at appeal and several more pending scoping or screening opinions.

EDF Energy Renewables said any new planning application for the site will be accompanied by full community and stakeholder consultation and full details of all activities will be announced soon.