Windfarms and Local Planning Policy

12.00.00am GMT Sun 19th Mar 2006

Milton Keynes Council has reaffirmed its planning policy towards renewable energy. This includes purpose-built power generation plants such as the 'combined heat and power' plant planned for the CBXIII development in Central Milton Keynes, active solar heating, photovoltaic panels, landfill gas and wind energy.

The policy opposes renewable energy where this would cause:

• Significant harm to the amenity of residential areas due to noise, traffic, pollution or odour

• Significant harm to a wildlife species or habitat

• Unacceptable visual impact on the landscape.

The policy makes special mention that wind turbines must, in addition, avoid 'shadow flicker' and electro-magnetic interference.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Graham Mabbutt said: "This policy will help us to defeat the proposals for wind turbines at Petsoe Manor, which is in a designated 'Area of Attractive Landscape' and also at Nuns Wood (between Lavendon and Bozeat).

"The proposed 10 wind turbines at Petsoe Manor would be 125 metres high (over twice the height of the Xscape building) and the 17 turbines proposed at Nuns Wood would be 122 metres high. These would certainly have an unacceptable visual impact on the landscape.

"A new wind turbine development at Burton Latimer (some fifteen miles across the Northamptonshire border) has led to an outcry in the local press due to interference being caused to television reception in the area. Milton Keynes Council's policy is designed to prevent this kind of development."