Proposals submitted by Carsington Wind Energy Limited for the erection of 4no wind turbine generators and associated infrastructure on land at Carsington Pasture are to be determined by Derbyshire Dales District Council at a special meeting of the Southern Area Planning Committee to be held at 6.00pm on Tuesday 17 July 2007 in Ashbourne Leisure Centre.

The proposals have been the subject of detailed consideration by Derbyshire Dales District Council who have sought advice on a wide range of issues from relevant experts in the field. The views and opinions of residents and statutory consultees including Natural England, Peak District National Park Authority and National Air Traffic Services have also been taken into account.

In commenting on the development, Paul Wilson, Planning Services Manager for the District Council said: “The proposals for Carsington Pasture have been the source of significant local concern and in this regard, the District Council gave an undertaking at the outset that it would afford ample opportunity for the proposals to be fully scrutinised and for the views and opinions of all interested parties to be submitted prior to making any determination. In this regard, I am now satisfied that the District Council is in a position to make a formal determination of these proposals”

The report to be presented to the Southern Area Planning Committee recommends that planning permission be refused for the development. The report states that “whilst the benefits of this scheme in terms of energy policy and climate change are not contested, these matters do not outweigh the very significant visual intrusion of the development and harm that would result to landscape character and appearance having due regard to the proximity to the National Park. The harm that would result to people’s recreational enjoyment of the areas also weighs heavily against the scheme as does its failure to demonstrate that interests of archaeology, nature conservation and air safety can be satisfactorily safeguarded.”

Read the report here (PDF file - takes approx 7mins to download - broadband will be faster)