Wind farm 'will harm Peak District', High Court hears

The Peak District National Park faces disfigurement if the High Court fails to stop four 335ft (102m) wind turbines being built on its doorstep, it was claimed yesterday (MON).

By Stephen Adams Published: 4:42PM BST 29 Jun 2009
In a battle that could have important legal implications for the siting of wind farms across Britain, the Peak District National Park Authority has joined forces with Derbyshire Dales District Council to ask the High Court to reject planning permission for the four turbines. Each would be almost twice the height of Nelson's Column.
They are to be built at Carsington Pastures, between Matlock and Ashbourne, which is just outside the park and adjoins the Carsington Water beauty spot.

The planning application was originally rejected by the district council two year ago, but developers Carsington Wind Energy Ltd took the matter to the Planning Inspectorate, which overruled the local councillors.
In his decision report, planning inspector Robin Brooks found the 10MW project would result in "no unacceptable harm to the character and appearance of the National Park" as seen from most directions, and any visual impact was outweighed by the national need for renewable energy.
He reported: "The turbines could reasonably be seen by many observers as not out of keeping with, and even appropriate to, an elemental, windswept landscape."
But Anthony Crean QC, appearing for the park and council, argued the inspector had misconstrued planning law.
Mr Brooks had made a fundamental error by concluding it was unnecessary to consider whether the need for renewable energy could be met on another site where less harm would be caused, said Mr Crean.
The High Court application is being opposed by the developer, Carsington Wind Energy Ltd, and John Denham, the Communities Secretary.
Speaking outside court, a spokesman for the national park authority said: "The authority supports renewable energy schemes in principle but believes that all other alternative locations should be considered first when planning a development of this scale so close to the national park boundary. This application would have a direct visual impact on the national park.
"This is an important case because the decision could have implications for future wind farm applications near to other national parks in the UK."