Peace undisturbed: St Decumanus’ Church (LLandegwan), Rhoscrowther

AN APPEAL by Rhoscrowther Windfarm Ltd against the refusal of planning permission for the construction of 5 wind turbines has been dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate.

In a lengthy written decision, Planning Inspector Alwyn Nixon concluded that the impact of the plans on the natural and heritage environment of the area far outweighed any potential benefit from permitting the development to proceed.

The windfarm developers did not dispute that the turbines would significantly impact upon the landscape character for up to two kilometres from their proposed position. However, it argued that the proximity of other nearby industrial developments, specifically the Valero refinery, meant that the turbines would both complement and blend in to the setting.

That argument was rejected by the planning inspector, who described the case advanced as unconvincing. The Inspector determined: “The visual and spatial character of the proposed development is very different to the refinery; I do not consider that the development would be seen as complementary to the refinery, somehow assimilated into the landscape by the refinery’s presence or as a consolidation of what is already present.”

LANDSCAPE WOULD BE DISFIGURED

The Inspector further concluded that the pastoral nature of the landscape would be disfigured by the introduction of ‘prominent and large-scale man-made structures into the narrow wedge of pastoral landscape between the Valero refinery and the National Park’.

While objections had been received on a number of bases, including the potential of disturbing horses on neighbouring bridleways, several were rejected as being unsupported by evidence or overstated.

The key determining factor appears to be the impact of the development on the area around St Decumanus’ Church. In that respect, the Inspector concluded that the construction of the turbines would have a pervasive presence and would be ‘a prominent and distracting feature’ impinging on the secluded and peaceful nature of the Church and its grounds.

NO DECLINING NEED

However, the Inspector expressly rejected the argument advanced by the County Council in its original decision that the turbines were unnecessary as there was a declining need for energy from renewable resources. The Inspector suggests that the Council appears to view renewable targets as a limit to be reached, as opposed to a target to be achieved or exceeded.

In respect of the social and economic benefits of the scheme, the Inspector noted the potential for the creation of just over one full time equivalent job in Pembrokeshire as a result of the scheme’s development and further noted the community benefits that would flow from it, if approved.

The Inspector balanced the proposal against the local development plan, having rejected a suggestion made by the developer that proximity to Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven meant that it fell with the Ports’ energy-related development plan. He concluded, however, that none of those factors outweighed the ‘substantial visual harm’ to significant parts of the National Park. In particular, the Inspector highlighted the significant harm to the landscape around Angle Bay and Freshwater West.