The Planning Cttee. agreed today to refuse the application from the University of Nottingham to build 2 wind turbines at Grove Farm, off Thane Road and on the way to Boots.
For an advocate of green energy, the whole experience has been a bit of a shock. These turbines would have made a huge statement about Nottingham’s commitment to the environment standing high alongside the busiest road in the city – Clifton Bridge.
The proposed turbines are huge. Picture The Council House, and think on how high it is. Then double it and add a few metres more. That high. Higher than the famous turbines in the sea off Copenhagen. And more powerful. Exciting, with the potential to be a distinctive landmark for the city and picking up on the University’s role in wind turbine design from the seventies.
But people live in a neighbourhood facing Grove Farm and as a Planning Committee, you act within a range of plans agreed and planning policies enacted.
Whilst the eastern turbine was by tests applied elsewhere, acceptable 690m distant, it was very hard by the same test to see it being acceptable for a more central turbine that would be 450m away.
There were other reasons to object, but I can foresee the sponsors addressing concerns about air traffic control radar and impact on sports fields sometime in the future.
The vote was unanimous, although at least three Councillors said how they would have liked to have voted for some kind of scheme.
One Councillor confused matters by –
– saying we should also recognise concerns about health and noise – planning officials have reported no such concerns;
– saying we should go along with Broxtowe Borough Council’s decision to object to a third turbine to the west – well, no, this is a Nottingham decision;
– circulating his own felt-pen drawing trying to show the size of the wind turbine alongside the tower block at Southchurch Drive.
So we spent some time making sure these points couldn’t be perceived as a rationale for the refusal and weakening the case being made. Helped by the Councillor not seeing through his convictions by moving an amendment.
Now we await the sponsor’s next action, probably an appeal against the Broxtowe decision, possibly an appeal against ours, or perhaps a fresh application.
Note, pictures taken from University of Nottingham publication.
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