Broadview

< Back to all project news 01 Dec 2010 - Seamer Broadview to appeal Council's refusal to relocate control room

Broadview has submitted an appeal to The Planning Inspectorate against the recent decision by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council to reject Broadview’s planning application to relocate the electrical control room for the Seamer wind farm, by approximately 250m, to the north of the Seamer Road.  The decision, based on visual impact considerations, was made contrary to the recommendation of the Council’s planning officer.

Permission to build an electrical control room to the south of the Seamer Road was granted by the Council last year as part of its approval of the Seamer wind farm. The request to move the building and slightly enlarge its size was made following detailed design work with Northern Electricity Distribution Limited.  As part of the new design, Broadview offered to use local stone to ensure the appearance was similar to an agricultural building in a rural setting.

Danny Maher, the Project Manager for the Seamer wind farm, commented: “We have given the stated visual impact reason for refusal detailed consideration. We have noted that the Council’s own officers were of the opinion that the visual impact was acceptable and recommended that the application be approved. We have therefore decided, with some reluctance given the costs that will be incurred by both parties, to appeal the councillors’ decision.”  A hearing into the appeal is expected to be held in February next year.

Notes to editors:

• Broadview Energy Limited www.broadviewenergy.com develops wind energy projects in the United Kingdom that will generate clean, sustainable energy. Broadview takes projects from site identification, through the planning process, to construction and ultimately operation. The company’s first windfarm (near Aberdeen) entered operation in January 2010. Broadview has a number of other projects at various stages of the development process throughout the United Kingdom.
• More information on the Seamer wind farm can be obtained via the dedicated project web pages: www.seamerwindfarm.co.uk.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Lisa Ross at Broadview Energy Limited (lross@broadviewenergy.com / 020 8487 9150).