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Nun Wood Wind Farm - Planning Information

Bedford & MK Council Development Committees Refused Applications for Harrold and Lavendon Parishes

The proposal to build a wind farm at Nun Wood has been considered by the three local Councils: Bedford, Wellingborough and Milton Keynes. Their deliberations take into account the latest submissions from the Applicant, Npower Renewables.

Bedford Council - APPLICATION REFUSED

The Planning Officer at Bedford Borough Council reached a conclusion and recommended that the application be refused on the twin grounds of visual and landscape impact upon the local area. There have been 922 letters of objection from local residents and 8 letters of support for the application. Following recent additional submissions, a further 417 letters of objection were received by Bedford Council.

In particular, the Planning Officer recommended refusal on the grounds that:

“The proposed wind turbines, by reason of their scale and number, would result in an unacceptable visual impact on the landscape and would damage the character of the Hinwick Wooded Wolds Character Area ...” and

“The submitted details, including the Environmental Statement, fail to demonstrate that, on that part of the site located within the Hinwick Wooded Wolds Character Area identified in the Bedford Borough Landscape Character Assessment, August 2007, the proposed development would enhance important landscape features or protect and improve the character of the public bridleway/footpath known as the Three Shires Way.”

The Planning Officer’s detailed report can be found by clicking here.

[Click on Item 6 for report details]

Bedford's Development Committee met on Monday 14^th February to consider the Officer’s recommendations and unanimously agreed that the application to erect turbines for the Nun Wood wind farm in Harrold Parish should be refused.

MK Council - APPLICATION REFUSED

The Planning Officer for MK Council reached a similar conclusion to his colleague in Bedford. However, because the paperwork for an Appeal by Npower Renewables was submitted in a different timeframe, the recent planning meeting by MK Councillors could only determine what would be their decision to forward to the Planning Inspectorate. The result therefore cannot be finalised until after the Appeal to the Planning Inspectorate is heard later this year.

The MK Planning Officer recommended refusal on the grounds that:

“The proposed wind turbines by virtue of their size and number would result in an unacceptable impact upon the landscape, contrary to policies [variously specified]”

“The submitted details, including the Environmental Statement, fail to demonstrate that the proposed development would not have an adverse effect on the setting and visual amenity of settlements and individual properties as well as on key routes, such as the Three Shires Way which traverses the site, and fail to demonstrate how they protect and improve their character or distinctiveness. The proposal therefore conflicts with [various specified policies]”

The Planning Officer’s detailed report can be found by clicking here.

The MK Development Committee met on Thursday 17^th February to consider the Planning Officer’s recommendations and unanimously agreed that it was minded to refuse the application for the Nun Wood wind farm to be built in Lavendon Parish.

Wellingborough Council

The Officer’s report for Wellingborough Councillors to consider is not yet available because further clarification is being sought and so a Development Committee meeting has not yet been scheduled. It is believed that this may not be held before May 2011

Appeal with Planning Inspectorate

The Applicant, Npower Renewables has lodged appeals with the Planning Inpectorate in respect of the decisions made by the above three Councils (including Wellingborough on the grounds of non-determination). The Appeal hearing will be held at in Bedford starting on 4th October 2011.

Latest: For result of Appeal, see above report.

RESULTS OF A RESIDENTIAL VISUAL AMENITY SURVEY CONDUCTED BY NPOWER RENEWABLES - July 2011

Headline - Residents in 45% of Lavendon properties will experience significant visual effects from their gardens and windows.

In the run-up to the forthcoming Appeal by Npower Renewables, the latter published the results of their recent detailed survey to consider the potential visual impact of the proposed Nun Wood Wind Farm upon local residents and upon their views from the gardens and windows of their properties.

The survey was effectively limited to those properties within 2km of the nearest turbine, thereby excluding some parts of Lavendon such as the listed properties at Uphoe and various other properties, eg in Langlands. Overall this survey also covered residential properties in other nearby villages, including Bozeat, that fall within 2km.

The report is lengthy, but the following summary extracts will be of specific interest to some residents of Lavendon:

Para 4.21 – From a number of dwellings along Castle Road, Northampton Road, Langlands and The Glebe, significant effects would arise mostly as a result of views which are partially restricted by intervening built form and tree cover. In total 165 properties (44% of Lavendon) would experience significant effects as a result of partially restricted views including views of turbine tips over adjacent rooftops.

Additionally 3 properties in Castle Road “are predicted to experience primarily open direct views towards the turbines”. Thus in total 168 properties (45% of Lavendon) will experience ‘significant’ effects.

What does ‘significant’ mean?

‘Significant’ relates to those visual receptors, ie residents, who will experience a ‘Substantial’ or ‘Moderate’ magnitude of visual change. In practical terms this means:

Substantial – “where the proposals would have a defining influence on the view. Change very prominent leading to substantial obstruction or complete change in character and composition of the baseline existing view.”

Moderate – marks a change in view “where the proposals would be clearly noticeable and an important new element in the view. It may involve partial obstruction of existing view or partial change in character and composition of the baseline existing view.”

NUN WOOD WIND FARM: APPEAL ALLOWED - November 2011

After some six years of opposition both by local residents and the campaign group BLOT, the Planning Inspectorate has determined that the proposed construction of the Nun Wood wind farm should be permitted subject to various technical planning conditions.

Those who have been campaigning relentlessly to avoid this imposition on our local countryside are of course very disappointed with the Inspector's findings which have ignored local public opinion. In particular, the campaign group BLOT has been very grateful to local residents for the huge amount of support they have provided throughout the campaign. The unprecedented number of letters received from private residents, businesses and others was instrumental in persuading the local planning authorities to refuse planning permission prior to the lodging of the appeal by Npower Renewals. The latter will now benefit from significant subsidies paid for as ever by the steady increases in all our energy bills.

A full copy of the Planning Inspector's findings following the recent Appeal hearing at Bedford is available to read here. The following extracts from the Inspector's report summarise his main findings and conclusions:

"Decisions

1. In exercise of the powers transferred to me, I allow the appeals and grant planning permissions subject to conditions as detailed in the Formal Decisions below.

Main Issues

55. From my consideration of all the evidence and representations, and my inspection of the site and surroundings, I am of the opinion that there are two main issues in these appeals. They are: first, the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the landscape; and second, the effect of the proposal on visual amenity.

56. Other issues raised by the Rule 6 party [BLOT] and interested persons that are dealt with below concerned the following: residential amenity; noise; heritage assets; and equestrian activity and the economic impact on the livery business at Lower Farm Stables; and aviation interests.

Conclusion

103. On the main issues I find that the development would have a significant effect on the character of the landscape of the area, and would thus cause harm. And in terms of visual amenity, the turbines would be widely visible from many angles within a 6km radius of the site and have significant effects from many places. However, the degree of harm in landscape and visual amenity terms is limited. In my judgement the harm is outweighed by the urgent need for renewable energy as promoted in national and regional policies and the wider environmental and economic benefits that it would bring over a 25 year period. Subject to the imposition of suitable conditions I do not find that there would be unacceptable harm to the other issues raised above. I have had regard to all other matters raised but none is sufficient to overcome the considerations I deem to be paramount.

104. For the reasons given, I conclude that the three appeals should be allowed and planning permission granted."

NUN WOOD WIND FARM - PROTEST

If you were disappointed with the outcome of the recent Appeal permitting the construction of the Nun Wood wind farm, then why not protest by signing up to a related No. 10 website petition at:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22704

NUN WOOD WIND FARM PROPOSAL
High Court Action - December 2011

Milton Keynes Council (MKC) has served a notice through the High Court in London to The Planning Inspectorate, Npower and various Land Owners that they (MKC) have lodged an appeal against the Planning Inspectors Decision concerning the outcome of the recent Nun Wood Windfarm Appeal published on the 15^th November 2011.

The MKC Legal Team considers that the Planning Inspector has failed to utilise the appropriate metrics when considering energy targets in relation to the Nun Wood decision. Also the Inspector has failed to consider the impact of the proposal upon the Three Shire Way despite this being a key concern identified by the three Councils. Furthermore the Inspector has not included essential conditions in his judgement in relation to certain aspects of noise generation. In short, the Notice to the High Court concludes that the Inspector’s decision is materially flawed and should be quashed.