January 7, 2015
England

Village faces yet another fight to stop wind farm

Rebecca Murphy | Norwich Evening News | Wednesday, January 7, 2015 | www.eveningnews24.co.uk

A south Norfolk village has been plunged back into a battle to stop a wind farm being built.

In late October, Hempnall residents were celebrating the refusal of planning permission for three wind turbines.

The fight has been ongoing since TCI Renewables submitted the planning application to build four 126m-high wind turbines, later reduced to three, in 2013.

Last January, South Norfolk Council’s development management committee refused planning permission, despite a recommendation from council officers. But TCI lodged an appeal and a formal planning inquiry was started by the council.

Even though permission was rejected once again, TCI have challenged the decision and there will now be a judicial review at the High Court. The date for the review to be decided is on January 15.

A spokesman for the campaign group, Stop Hempnall’s Onshore Wind Turbines (SHOWT), said: “If TCI win and the Secretary of State’s decision is overturned in the High Court, then TCI’s planning application will go back for yet another public inquiry at South Norfolk Council. Should this happen, we will start our fundraising again and employ experts to make our case once again.”

• In 2006 Enertrag UK and landowners began planning for turbines to be erected on land in Hempnall

• In the same year, Stop Hempnall’s Onshore Wind Turbines, was developed to campaign against the wind turbines

• Enertrag UK’s application for seven turbines was refused by South Norfolk Council. The company took it to an appeal but were also rejected at a public inquiry

• Oxford-based TCI Renewables submitted a scoping opinion application for land in the village in November 2011 after buying the site from Enetrag

• In January 2013 a planning application was submitted by TCI Renewables to develop Streetwood wind farm with four turbines later reduced to three

• South Norfolk council’s development management committee refused planning permission in January 2014 South Norfolk council’s development management committee-TCI lodged an appeal and the decision was made by Mr Pickles

• In October the secretary of state Eric Pickles rejected the proposed wind farm. He stated in his report that the wind farm would have an ‘adverse effect on the character of the landscape’ and ‘would undermine the tranquillity of the area.’ He also mentioned the importance of the village’s conservation area and said the turbines blades would ‘detract from the setting’ of the grade I listed St Margaret’s Church.