Campaigners fighting to stop the development of an onshore windfarm hope the plans are now dead after the scheme suffered yet another blow.

Your Energy Ltd had hoped to build six 100 metre high wind turbines at Parham Airfield, near Framlingham.

But the proposals have been thrown into doubt after Suffolk Coastal District Council recently ruled that they will have to reapply for new planning permission if they want to push ahead with the development, which would also have included part of a 310 hectare farm in the parishes of Parham, Great Glemham and Marlesford.

Your Energy had to begin work on the site by July 6 this year otherwise their existing permission - granted in July 2006 - would expire.

However it was not supposed to start until a number of conditions had been met, including concerns over the construction of the foundations and the safe delivery of turbine blades.

But at the beginning concerns were raised about the deposit of what appeared to be construction material at the airfield - prompting an investigation by the district council.

The developer outlined an intention to upgrade a section of track on the site which it argued was a technical start and therefore commencement of planning permission.

But a recent report to the district council's North Area Development Control Sub-Committee said: "Officers are firmly of the view having taken appropriate legal advice, that the works undertaken on the access track were unauthorised and hence unlawful and did not constitute a commencement of development of planning permission for the Parham Windfarm development. The Parham Windfarm planning permission has lapsed and can no longer be relied upon."

As a result of the ruling developers will now have to reapply for planning permission if they want to push ahead with the plans, which it is claimed would generate enough electricity for 3,000 homes.

Last night Steve Hunter, senior development manager with Your Energy Ltd, said a decision had yet to be taken on the next step forward.

John Constable, chairman of No Windfarm At Parham (NOWAP), said he hoped this would spell the end for the plans.

"Its great news for all surrounding villages," he said. "Your Energy could not meet the conditions that the council quite correctly set and work could not start on time. It's up to them to decide what to do next but we think it's an inappropriate site for a windfarm because it's far too close to people's houses and we hope it's the last that we've seen of it."