Ecotricity, which wants to put up five turbines near Brent Knoll, stated on its website that, according to the Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors (RICS), there are no studies suggesting wind farms have a negative impact on property prices.

But the organisation says it carried out a survey in which most of its members said property prices fall near wind farms.

In a report, the institution said the slump in property prices is worst when planning permission for a wind farm is submitted.

But the negative effect continues for about two years after the wind farm is built, after which it becomes less severe, the survey found.