Churchover wind farm rejected once again

Churchover. Photo by Paul Bunyard, Wild About Images

Energy firm RES (Renewable Energy Systems) failed to overturn Rugby Borough Council’s refusal of its initial planning application in 2013 to build Swift Wind Farm in Churchover.

The Swift Wind Farm development would have been built on land near Cestersover Farm and would have consisted of four turbines with total heights of 126.5m.

Residents of Churchover said they were ‘jubilant’ after Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, agreed with a planning inspector and turned down the appeal on Tuesday.

The protest group Against Subsidised Windfarms Around Rugby (ASWAR) has been campaigning against the intrusive wind farm since the first application.

An ASWAR spokesperson said: “We would like to thank the numerous people both locally, nationally and indeed internationally, who have all had a role in helping not just the battles along the way but now being on the verge of winning the final war against the subsidy speculators.”

Commenting on the decision, RES’ development manager for Swift Wind Farm, Daniel Patterson, said: “This extremely disappointing news; not just for RES but for the local community who were set to benefit from Swift Wind Farm.

“Our engagement throughout the planning process enabled us to identify issues of concern, explore solutions, and design a low-impact project which we have always believed would be a positive asset welcomed by the local community.

“It is therefore a sad indictment that the demonstrable support shown from within the region for both onshore wind and this project specifically was not enough to stop local people losing out on the very significant economic and environmental benefits this wind farm would have provided.”