A Planning Inspector has upheld a decision by Pembrokeshire County Council to refuse planning permission for a wind turbine near Milford Haven.
The appeal by Michael Clarke of RESense was dismissed by Inspector Clive Nield because of the effects of the proposed development on the appearance of the area.
Mr Clarke had applied to build a single wind turbine with a maximum tip height of 74m, along with ancillary development, including a crane hardstanding pad and substation, at Woodston Lower Thornton.
The application was refused by Pembrokeshire County Council in January this year and Mr Clarke appealed.
Inspector Nield said that the main issue in the case concerned the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area.
He said that at 74 metres high the proposed turbine would be a substantial vertical structure although the Appellant maintained it would have a limited visual impact on account of the existing large structures in the area -notably the oil refineries, other manufacturing plants and existing wind turbines.
“Whilst that is clearly an important factor, it does not necessarily justify the introduction of more wind turbines, which may unacceptably intensify the development or extend it further into the surrounding countryside. I consider the scale and location of this proposal to fall under that description,” he said.
He added that the proposed turbine would have a major adverse effect in views from several residential properties, public roads and footpaths close to the site as well as adversely affecting some views from prominent locations within the national park, albeit at greater distances and with proportionately less adverse effect.
“Nevertheless the cumulative effects of the proposal in conjunction with existing structures would be unacceptably harmful in some views,” he said.
He concluded that he had taken into account the fact that the scheme would provide a substantial amount of green energy in line with Welsh Government policies on sustainability, however nothing outweighed the considerations which had led to his main conclusions on the harm to the appearance of the landscape.
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