Controversial plans to build a wind farm near Market Drayton could be redesigned and resubmitted, it has been revealed.
Energy giant Nuon Renewables have said they will not challenge the decision of a government inspector who threw out plans to build seven 110 metre wind turbines on land at Poplar Lane near Woore.
But it said it felt it appropriate to consider the possibility of a redesigned wind farm at the site which addresses the inspector’s concerns.
The Planning Inspectorate was called in after Nuon appealed against a decision by the former North Shropshire District Council planning committee to refuse permission for the wind farm.
Nuon also appealed against Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s refusal of planning permission for access to the site.
But in July, the inspectorate said it had rejected the appeals and upheld the councils’ decisions. The decision followed a four-week inquiry in May.
Campaigners feared the turbines would have a detrimental effect on the landscape and would cause noise.
Nuon spokesman Al Hanagan said the organisation was “surprised” by the planning inspector’s decision not to reverse the ruling.
He said Nuon disagreed with the inspector’s conclusions but was satisfied his decision was lawful and therefore would not be challenged.
He said Nuon was: “Assessing whether a revised proposal can achieve the production of clean energy at the Poplar Lane site having regard to both the extensive body of work to date and the outcome of the appeal. The decision to either come forward with a revised application or withdraw completely will not be taken lightly but Nuon is working vigorously towards that decision and will keep people informed.”
Terry May, from the campaign group Veto on Rural Turbine Expansion (Vortex), said the fact that Nuon would not challenge the inspector’s decision was “wonderful news” and campaigners were delighted.
She said: “I think it is quite unnecessary to bring another application forward.
“If they brought another one forward we would fight it with equal strength to last time, the issues are exactly the same, there is nothing they can do to make it right.”
By Winston Brown
