Campaigners welcome landmark wind farm ruling

Green campaigners have welcomed a High Court ruling that rejected plans for four large wind turbines in Norfolk.

A judge ruled out plans to build 105m (344ft) turbines near Hemsby in favour of conserving the local countryside.

Sea & Land Power and Energy Ltd had wanted to build the four turbines near Great Yarmouth to supply power to more than 5,000 homes and help meet the government’s renewable energy targets.

The company’s plans were rejected by the local council in 2009, whose decision has now been upheld by the High Court.

“The countryside should play an important role in tackling climate change, but we need to find a better balance between cutting carbon and protecting important landscapes.”
Tom Leveridge, CPRE

Explaining her decision, Mrs Justice Lang said the turbines would harm the character and appearance of the landscape

The judge added the government’s renewable energy targets do not outweigh the value of the beauty of the countryside.

Jubilant residents, local councils and conservation groups who were opposed to the plans have welcomed the landmark judgment.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England said the ruling was “highly significant”. Those fighting wind turbines in the future will likely cite the case.

Tom Leveridge, senior energy campaigner for the CPRE, said: “The countryside should play an important role in tackling climate change, but we need to find a better balance between cutting carbon and protecting important landscapes.

“This application was another example of giant turbines being proposed in an inappropriate location.

“Mrs Justice Lang’s decision will reassure other local communities keen to protect valued landscapes but who feel like their concerns are increasingly being ignored as a result of government energy policy.

“Local communities need to be empowered to decide for themselves how they want to contribute to tackling climate change including by identifying those areas where onshore wind is, and isn’t, appropriate.”