National planning policy requires planning authorities to ‘protect and enhance the quality of the natural and historical environment‘ and to ‘protect the countryside for the sake of its intrinsic character and beauty …‘ It is hard to see how seven 125m high structures, three of which would be sited at positions of maximum visibility on the edge of a remarkable plateau at 164m high, which will almost double its height above sea level, can be incorporated in this guidance.
The windfarm would completely dominate the appearance and character of the area to such an extent that much of its existing quality would be overwhelmed. The surrounding area would effectively become defined by the turbines to the extent that its identity and diversity would be diminished and its existing sense of place severely compromised. All the suggested structures are totally out of scale with the general ‘setting’ of the area and will utterly destroy some of the longest, finest, and locally-valued vistas from the plateau. In a proposed development in Devon it was found that even 100m high turbines would double the relative relief and would ‘tower above the valley’. It seems that with the Harrington proposal the developer has also failed adequately to consider the vertical dimension of the proposal, which is best judged by observation of the meteorological mast then doubling its height, adding a solid structure roughly the size of the old Express Lift building in Northampton and then replicating this structure seven times. The tallest permanent buildings locally are the church towers at Draughton and Maidwell, each around 12m., approximately one-tenth the total height of the proposed structures. It is clear that the views towards the site, and particularly from within, say, 5km of it will be totally compromised by the development. The maps in the application illustrate clearly that the turbines will be visible for a surprisingly large area of south Leicestershire and north Northamptonshire. Some of maps show also show visibility much wider afield.
As well as views towards the turbines the development would also ruin the current, locally much-valued views from the plateau, which extend for many kilometers to the south- and north-west respectively. Although the A14 is visible in views to the north-west, the road is set in a cutting and the view to the south and west must be one of the longest available in the entire county.
Remoteness, agricultural dominance, simple landscape, a largely rural landscape with scattered dwellings are all key features valued by local residents which are becoming increasingly rare and would be materially and adversely altered for at least 25 years by the erection of such huge man-made structures. Even the adjoining landscape types, which included designated sites as well as listed buildings, would be impacted for a distance in excess of 30 miles. The openness and remoteness of the landscape, key views and tranquillity would all be harmed by the existence of turbines which would dominate the sky for people close by (residents and users of the many, important rights of way) and draw the eye of those further away. The turbines would represent an industrialisation of an agricultural landscape.
Northamptonshire has seen a considerable amount of development in recent decades: urban, commercial and industrial with the most notable addition in the last few years being considerable numbers of distribution warehouses. However, some areas of Northamptonshire countryside are really beautiful. We need to protect these more attractive areas.
We are also concerned about the cumulative impact of built and proposed wind farm developments along the A14 corridor. There are already wind farms at Burton Wold and Crick, (and the former is subject to an application for an increase in the number of turbines), with others proposed at Lodge Farm Brixworth (currently withdrawn), Gartree, Kelmarsh, Swinford, Mawsley etc. The landscape would become characterised virtually entirely by windfarms rather than by natural features and cultural heritage.
At Nuon’s website http://www.nuonrenewables.com/HARI/HARI_Visualisations.htm on 22nd Nov. it is clearly stated that:
To help understand how the wind farm will appear from various locations special photomontages are produced. The photomontage images are developed in accordance with established guidelines. In consultation with Daventry Council and neighbouring Parish Councils 26 viewing locations were identified around the former airfield site.
There was no such consultation with Maidwell and Draughton Parish Council save after the ES had been produced, when at least one Councillor requested further views to be provided from properties in Draughton, and such views were not added to the application material. The supplied photomontages are equivocal to say the least, with none provided from some critical viewpoints that would have been requested, for example from the A14 in both directions as requested by DDC/Highways Agency after scoping.
