Wind farm public inquiry closes

8 March 2010

Dozens of residents and organisations presented their views on the application during the four-week Planning Inspectorate hearing in Matlock, which drew to a close on Friday (5 March).

The Inspector is now set to review all of the evidence put before her at the Inquiry and her final decision on the application is expected by 30 April 2010.
 
The inquiry was called after the applicants, Derbyshire Wind Energy, appealed against 'non-determination' on the grounds that North East Derbyshire and Derbyshire Dales district councils – who were considering joint applications – took longer than the target times to make a decision.

The authorities were still required to submit their views on the scheme – both resolved to oppose the application and this, along with all representations made by members of the public and other stakeholders, were considered as evidence at the public inquiry.

A spokesperson for NEDDC and DDDC said: “These have been extremely complex applications covering a lot of specialist areas and have attracted hundreds of comments from a variety of interested parties from across the local community, as well as detailed comments from statutory consultees.

“The views of all interested parties, as well as both councils, will now be considered by the Planning Inspector and we await a final ruling on the scheme.”

Copies of the plans can be viewed online at www.ne-derbyshire.gov.uk/turbine (opens in a new window) or www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk (opens in a new window)