Hampshire wind farm refused over MoD concerns
Planning Resource|Catherine Early |June 17, 2014
It recommended refusal on the grounds that the turbines would pose a hazard to military aircraft, as the area is used by the Ministry of Defence for low flying training. Officers also judged the location to be unsuitable due to the impact the turbines would have on the operations of the Chilbolton Observatory Advanced Meteorological Radar.
It recommended refusal on the grounds that the turbines would pose a hazard to military aircraft, as the area is used by the Ministry of Defence for low flying training. Officers also judged the location to be unsuitable due to the impact the turbines would have on the operations of the Chilbolton Observatory Advanced Meteorological Radar.
An application for 14 wind turbines located across three local authority areas in Hampshire has been refused due to a series of concerns, including that they would pose a risk to low-flying military aircraft.
Developer EDF Energy Renewables had proposed the 14 wind turbines at Upper Norton Farm to the north of Winchester, which crosses the administrative boundaries of Winchester City Council, Test Valley Borough Council and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.
A planning report on the application was drawn up by officers from all three councils, with Winchester City Council as the lead authority.
It recommended refusal on the grounds that the turbines would pose a hazard to military aircraft, as the area is used by the Ministry of …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]An application for 14 wind turbines located across three local authority areas in Hampshire has been refused due to a series of concerns, including that they would pose a risk to low-flying military aircraft.
Developer EDF Energy Renewables had proposed the 14 wind turbines at Upper Norton Farm to the north of Winchester, which crosses the administrative boundaries of Winchester City Council, Test Valley Borough Council and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.
A planning report on the application was drawn up by officers from all three councils, with Winchester City Council as the lead authority.
It recommended refusal on the grounds that the turbines would pose a hazard to military aircraft, as the area is used by the Ministry of Defence for low flying training.
Officers also judged the location to be unsuitable due to the impact the turbines would have on the operations of the Chilbolton Observatory Advanced Meteorological Radar, which supports meteorological research on climate change and extreme weather.
They also believed that the turbines would disturb the landscape, which was largely undeveloped, and would harm the North Wessex Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and nearby heritage assets.
Planning committees from the three councils held consecutive meetings at the Guildhall in Winchester yesterday. All voted against the proposals.
A spokesman for EDF Energy Renewables said that it was "naturally disappointed" by the decisions and that the location was an excellent site for a wind farm that would generate significant benefits to both the local community and the economy.
He said: "The scheme has attracted high levels of support and encouragement from the local community and in particular, from the Hampshire Renewable Energy Cooperative. Thousands of letters of local support have been registered with the councils that recognised the importance and merits of the proposal.
"We will now carefully review the grounds for this decision and consider our options going forward," he said.