HAMPSHIRE civic chiefs have today welcomed a windfarm developers climbdown over a planning challenge.
EDF Energy Renewables has dropped an appeal against the refusal of permission for the 14 turbines on farmland at Bullington Cross north of Winchester.
Winchester, Test Valley and Basingstoke and Deane councils have welcomed the decision.
EDF proposed a 14-turbine windfarm on land near the intersection of the A303 and the A34, affecting all three district council areas.
The application was refused at a joint meeting of the three authorities’ planning committees in June 2014 - councillors believed Bullington Cross was the wrong site.
Cllr Michael Read, Winchester City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Built Environment, speaking for all three councils, said: “This is good news for the people of all three districts. Whilst supporting the principle of sustainable energy generation we had a number of objections to the proposed windfarm at Bullington Cross including its impact on the rural landscape, heritage assets and ecology."
Cllr Read added: “The decision by EDF not to pursue the appeal further will save all the authorities much time and money and will be welcomed by many residents who were concerned about the prospect of having 14 large wind turbines in their area.”