Last week Britain committed itself to cutting greenhouse gases by 80 per cent. This week Gordon Brown will claim the UK is now a world leader in wind power. An Observer investigation reveals his hopes could be blown wildly off course. No country has tried to switch so fast to renewable energy - but rising costs and technical problems mean that, without urgent action and cash, the targets cannot be met.

Energy Policy Zoning/Planning UK

The credit crunch and falling oil prices threaten to hold up some of Britain's renewable energy projects just as the UK has raised its commitment to green electricity, financiers said yesterday. While large projects backed by the bigger utilities are generally thought to be safe, smaller and more speculative developments are facing funding problems as backers adjust their lending criteria or, in some cases, consider withdrawing it altogether. "The debt is just not there," said John Dupont, head of renewable energy finance in the UK for Nordbank.

Impact on Economy Zoning/Planning UK

Appeals against Berwick Borough Council's refusal of planning permission for three wind farm proposals are due to be heard in late April next year - almost a month after the authority has ceased to exist. Members of the council's policy committee were told the planning inspectorate had agreed that all three appeals should be heard in a single inquiry, and had initially offered a start date of February 10 next year.

Zoning/Planning UK

An application to build two wind turbines in Almondsbury has been re-submitted. In August Almondsbury Sports and Social Club made an application to South Gloucestershire Council to build two 15-metre high wind turbines. ...last month the application was withdrawn because of concerns raised by local Highways officials. The application has now been re-submitted after alterations were made as to where the two turbines would be located on the club's site.

Zoning/Planning UK

A proposed wind farm at Thorpe Marsh has moved a step closer after Doncaster Council gave the go-ahead for tests to be carried out. Members of the borough's planning committee unanimously backed the request for permission to set up equipment to measure the wind strength at the site in fields at Arksey Common Lane. But Coun Mick Jameson asked council officers to ensure developer Simon Kerrison fully restored the site to its original state when the tests were completed.

Zoning/Planning UK

The inquiry will look into the appeal by Pennant Walters Hirwaun Ltd against the failure of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council to determine within the statutory eight-week period an application for planning permission for 12 wind turbines and ancillary infrastructure on the mountainside south of the A465. In April councillors rejected the wind farm plan following a recommendation from planning officers that it be refused.

Zoning/Planning UK

A public inquiry into whether a wind farm can be built in the Vale of Belvoir was teetering on the brink of collapse today after queries were raised over the accuracy of environmental assessments. Representing BLOT - Belvoir Locals Opposing Turbines - Tina Douglass questioned whether several of the assessments were based on plans for ten or seven turbines at the site at Thackson's Well, near Normanton and Long Bennington. At one stage, it looked as though the inquiry could be called off ...

Zoning/Planning UK

Planners from the Peak District National Park Authority have objected to plans for a five-turbine wind farm on the border of Sheffield and Barnsley. The Peak District planning committee has told Barnsley Council that the proposed wind farm on Sheephouse Heights, between Penistone and Stocksbridge, would be a "visual intrusion" that would harm the landscape and impact on the rural economy. Anne Ashe, who chaired the committee, said: "Members of the committee felt that having five wind turbines at this location would have a dramatic effect on the wilderness on the edge of the national park.

Impact on Landscape Zoning/Planning UK

Plans for the £1.5m turbines in Carsington were approved on Wednesday after Derbyshire Dales District Council's decision to reject proposals was overturned after a public inquiry. Although the plans have now been approved, it is unlikely the wind farm will be in place before spring 2010. Neil Exton, land development manager at West Coast Energy, whose subsidiary company Carsington Wind Energy was granted planning permission, said: "There is a massive worldwide demand for wind turbines. They aren't available from a shelf. They're manufactured to order."

Zoning/Planning UK

Opponents of a controversial wind farm today breathed a huge sigh of relief as it emerged that the developers have pulled out of the scheme. Hundreds of worried residents had voiced concerns about Lowestoft-based SLP Energy's proposals to build seven 125m high turbines at the former Pulham Airfield site, during a series of public meetings last year. An action group fighting the development claimed the rural community was totally unsuitable for a windfarm, and that would create a "blight zone" for those living in a 2km radius at Pulham Market, Pulham St Mary, Dickleburgh and Rushall.

Zoning/Planning UK

Councillors have withdrawn three of their four objections to plans for a wind farm in Northumberland. Members of Berwick Borough Council Planning Committee have unanimously agreed to amend their views on a proposal to erect turbines at Wandylaw, near Chathill, after the release of the Regional Spatial Strategy, drawn up by the North East Assembly to set out future land use. One objection remains - about the effect of turbines on the air defence radar at RAF Brizlee Wood, Alnwick.

Zoning/Planning UK

The go ahead for one of the UK's largest offshore wind farms to date will be announced by the Prime Minister today, in a speech to business leaders. The 500MW West of Duddon Sands wind farm is planned near Walney Island off the coast of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria and will comprise of up to 139 turbines. ...The Energy Secretary John Hutton has also approved an updated application from Ormonde Energy Limited to build a 150MW wind farm comprising of up to 30 turbines, which will also be sited near to Walney Island.

Energy Policy Zoning/Planning UK

Proposals to build a wind farm have been rejected after thousands of residents bombarded planners with letters of objection to the scheme. The controversial plans for seven wind turbines on land in Bearstone, near the Staffordshire-Shropshire border, had attracted 2,300 individual letters of opposition. North Shropshire District Council's planning meeting, held last night, pulled a crowd of more than 300 people who burst into spontaneous applause and cheers when councillors voted 10 to three against the application.

Zoning/Planning UK

Plans for a 127 metre-high wind turbine next to Dewlay's cheese business off the A6 near Garstang have been rejected. The company wanted to boost its green credentials by being powered by energy supplied from the towering turbine, which would have stood almost as high as Blackpool Tower. But councillors, worried about the turbine's imact on the flat Wyre countryside, have told cheese company bosses and their backers the project is too big and would be out of place.

Zoning/Planning UK

Last week Camelford Town Council staged an emergency meeting at which the public were invited to express their views on a proposal by Community Windpower Ltd for the wind turbines. However, town clerk Brian Groves said as yet the council had not received any formal notice of application for the turbines. Around 40 people attended the meeting and among protestors was Colin Caudery ...Mr Caudery, who lives between St Clether and Davidstow, urged councillors to "throw out" the application when it came before them for consultation.

Zoning/Planning UK

The firm's plans to build 18 wind turbines with a maximum height of 102 metres at the popular Auchencorth Moss beauty spot near Penicuik were rejected by Midlothian Council in February. But the scheme now looks set to go to a public inquiry after E.ON lodged an appeal against the decision with just days to spare before the deadline to appeal expired.

Zoning/Planning UK

RidgeWind Ltd wants to build 10 turbines at the site. But the council refused the application last October by eight votes to two on the basis it would harm the landscape and tourism and because of Ministry of Defence (MoD) concerns over the impact of the turbines on the air defence radar at nearby RAF Brizlee Wood. An appeal was submitted and a public inquiry is to begin in Berwick on September 16. But the government’s decision last month to approve plans for turbines at nearby Middlemoor has led council officers to ask members to consider whether they still want to oppose the Wandylaw scheme at the inquiry.

Zoning/Planning UK

A meeting was held on Tuesday night by developers Your Energy to talk to the planning committee of Yelvertoft Parish Council and members of the public about the proposed plans for an eight-turbine wind farm near the village. However the meeting in the Reading Room, in the High Street, left some people frustrated as the developers were unable to answer many of the questions asked. ...

Zoning/Planning UK

An action group fighting plans for eight massive wind turbines in a Northamptonshire village turned out in force to hear the proposals from an energy firm. More than 50 villagers joined the No Wind farm at Yelvertoft (NoWay) group protesting against Your Energy's presentation on Tuesday night. Many had to listen to the parish council's planning meeting from the streets after residents filled the room.

Zoning/Planning UK

North Shropshire MP, Owen Paterson, has spoken of his "shock" that North Shropshire District Council officers have given the go ahead to build a wind farm in Norton-in-Hales. Controversial plans to build seven giant wind turbines at Lower Farm, Bearstone, are set to get the green light from planning chiefs, despite thousands of objections from angry neighbours.

Zoning/Planning UK