Amended application for JPA gains officer approval (yet again!)
UPDATE (11/10/2012)
At the previous development committee meeting members could not agree to pass the proposals despite firm backing from planning officers, instead deferring until the next meeting on October 16th. The updated planning officer report is now even more strongly recommending permission is granted.
Its hard to see how (or why) the members would now refuse permission without looking unreasonable, remembering of course that planning permission for a turbine at this location was already granted at appeal AND costs were awarded against the authority.
Fingers crossed that all concerned see reason.
ORIGINAL (06/09/2012)
Following our successful appeal for a single wind turbine in Cumbria, we are pleased that the revised application at JPA has been recommended for approval by planning officers at Allerdale District Council.
The application goes before the development committee next week and we are hoping that members will vote to pass the proposals.
The revised application would actually see a turbine model that is both more powerful and quieter than the existing permitted model - so clearly it is in everyone's interest for the plans to be approved.
JPA Brayton appeal win
After months of waiting we are delighted to announce the decision of the planning inspectorate regarding our application for a single mid-size wind turbine at Brayton Park, Aspatria...
The appeal has been upheld and planning permission is thereby granted.
The inspector's report notes that Allerdale Borough Council (ABC) refused planning permission despite a recommendation to pass from their planning officers. Instead they said the single turbine would cause unacceptable visual impact, noise and shadow flicker resulting in damage to the local landscape and tourism industry.
In awarding costs, inspector David Pinner found no evidence was provided by ABC concluding that:
The Council’s decision to refuse to grant planning permission was made in the absence of any empirical evidence to substantiate their concerns. To disregard their officers’ comprehensive analysis of the relevant issues under these circumstances amounted to unreasonable behaviour, causing the applicant unnecessary expense in having to pursue the matter to appeal. I conclude that a full award of costs is justified. The application therefore succeeds.
In a recent article it was leaked that Allerdale Borough Council has spent over £80,000 of tax payers money in the last five years alone fighting wind turbine planning appeals.
Distgen now has 3 fully consented sites, a further 4 currently in planning and many more in development.
JPA Brayton application rejected (UPDATED)
UPDATE 14/01/2011
An appeal against the recent decision by Allerdale District to reject the JPA Brayton application has now been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.
With 80% of wind energy project appeals being successful we are naturally very hopeful that the project can proceed.
Citing effects on tourism, the application for a mid-size wind turbine was recently rejected by the Allerdale Planning Committee in Cumbria. This despite a recommendation to pass by the planning officer responsible.
Naturally we are disappointed the councillors chose to ignore the advice of the planning officer and give in to the handful of local objectors, however the application will now go to appeal - where 80 to 90% of wind turbine applications are successful.
On purely technical grounds the application is sound and we are confident the Government Inspectorate will concur.
Ironically, on the very subject of tourism, at a recent public enquiry in Cumbria a Government Inspector concluded: