A WIND farm given the green-light in Essex will have to go before the Planning Inspectorate again after the original permission was quashed.

James Hore

A WIND farm given the green-light in Essex will have to go before the Planning Inspectorate again after the original permission was quashed.

Maldon District Council had conceded defeat last October in its battle against plans for 10 turbines at Hockley Farm, Bradwell.

But it has now emerged the scheme will have to be re-assessed by the Planning Inspectorate after drafting errors were made in two of the planning conditions.

It is the latest twist in the saga of the wind farm, which was originally rejected by council planners before getting the go-ahead last year following a public inquiry.

More than 10,000 homes could be powered from the on-shore development which would have 121-metre turbines.

The council had argued the historic landscape and character of the farmland to the south of Bradwell would be changed for years to come, saying “peace and tranquillity” would be shattered.

After the drafting errors were discovered and challenged in the High Court by the council, Npower Renewables' case will be now be reconsidered.

Frank Delderfield, , who chairs the council's planning committee, said “It is clear that this issue is very important locally and, therefore, the matters need to be aired in public in an open and transparent manner.

“This will ensure that the outstanding matters, together with any recent changes in circumstances, can be put to the inspector in public, who will then re-determine the appeal.”

Cath Stevenson, development manager at Npower Renewables, said: “The Planning Inspector is seeking the views of local stakeholders, including Maldon District Council, about how the wind farm re-determination will proceed.

“I am pleased that the re-determination of the application is progressing, as the wind farm could be a major boost for the 2010 renewable energy targets for the East of England.”