Tedder Hill Wind Cluster Appeal Decision

18th Feb '10

In September and October 2009, Peter Wood gave evidence at the Public Inquiry into an Appeal by E.ON UK plc against the refusal of planning permission by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council for a wind cluster on land south of Pilmar Lane, Roos. The scheme is known as the ‘Tedder Hill Wind Cluster’. The Inspector’s Decision was published on 28 January 2010. The appeal was allowed and planning permission granted. The Council had refused planning permission on grounds of landscape and visual impact, harm to the amenity of residents of the nearby Holderness Country (Chalet) Park by way of shadow flicker and harm to a number of cultural heritage assets. Peter’s evidence addressed the need for the proposed wind cluster against the background of international, national and regional policy for combating global climate change, and the contribution of renewables to energy generation in the UK and security of energy supply. It drew together with findings of expert Landscape and Cultural Heritage witnesses acting for the Appellant and related these to the relevant planning policy context. Peter’s evidence also addressed a significant number of third party objections to the proposal and again related them to planning policy. The Inspector concluded that the proposal would not have any detrimental impact on the setting of any listed buildings or conservation areas, or subject to suitable conditions, the living conditions of local residents. it would harm the character and appearance of the surrounding landscape, but not significantly. On the other hand, the Inspector took the view that the proposal would provide a significant benefit in terms of the production of energy from a renewable source, in compliance with aspects of the development plan and Government policy, and while he did not consider financial initiatives associated with E.ON’s Unilateral Undertaking to be determinative, he concluded that they would be a benefit of the scheme. On balance, therefore, the Inspector was of the view that the positive aspects of the proposal outweigh the negative, and on that basis the proposal would comply with relevant aspects of development plan and national policy for renewable energy. Peter has been involved with renewable energy proposals since 1991, and to date has given evidence at 12 Public Inquiries into on shore wind energy proposals in England and Wales.

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