October 1, 2014
England

Belford Burn wind farm faces refusal

Berwick Advertiser | 01 October 2014 | www.berwick-advertiser.co.uk

Plans to build nine wind turbines at Belford Burn are being recommended for refusal by Northumberland County Council.

The application by Energiekontor UK Ltd has attracted 500 letters of objection from local residents and just nine letters of support.

Opposition has come in from parish councils at Belford, Beadnell, Bamburgh, Holy Island, Tillside and Lowick.

The National Trust, Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership, Berwick Wildlife Group, Northumberland Badger Group, Royal Society Of Protection Of Birds, Northumberland Wildlife Trust have also lodged objections, whilst the Ministry of Defence say it would have an adverse effect on the radar at Brizlee Wood.

The developers say the 100m tall masts could generate up to 82GWh of electricity per annum, powering up to 19,000 homes and saving 35,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

If approved, the wind farm would provide a community fund of up to £112,500 each year of its operational life and the developers have proposed a contribution of £500,000 towards the Belford Railway Station project.

Senior planning officer Philip McCarthy, in a report, acknowledges the importance of renewable energy.

However, he concludes: “The wind farm would have significant and unacceptable adverse impacts on visual amenity and on the character of the local landscape and the designated landscapes of the Northumberland Coast AONB and Heritage Coast and the proposal would be contrary to Berwick Local Plan.”

The application is due to go before the planning committee on Tuesday, 6pm, County Hall, Morpeth.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/10/01/belford-burn-wind-farm-faces-refusal/