The fight to protect this beautiful part of the South Hams is reaching its final hurdle with a public inquiry. 

After two and a half years of hard work by the Local Community, and thanks to all the previous very generous donors to this case – your contribution has been invaluable in getting us to this landmark stage. We won a critical legal opportunity to save an area of outstanding natural beauty, but we still need your help. 

We now need more financial assistance to complete the fight to preserve this area of landscape within the South Hams Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

View from the footpath at Frogmore Creek. From which the Turbine will be fully visible at the centre of the horizon.

What we are fighting for

The Kingsbridge & Salcombe Estuary area in South Devon has been described by Devon County Council as "The jewel in the crown of Devon." This living landscape is highly protected and a nationally designated AONB for the benefit of everyone.

To achieve success in this last, crucial stage of our fight, the best planning and legal case needs to be put forward – and we’re ready to do that, as long as we have the funding.

View on the road to Salcombe. The Turbine will be fully visible on the horizon to the right of centre. 

What has happened so far in the legal case

The proposal is for a 112ft turbine at the head of the beautiful Kingsbridge & Salcombe Estuary – at Frogmore Creek. On separate occasions two senior South Hams District Planning Officers, their Landscape Officer and the  Organisation of the AONB ALL strongly recommended refusal on the basis of harm to the AONB (see the Council's planning reference is 43/2567/13F). However, the South Hams Planning Committee granted planning permission as they said that all the harm identified would be outweighed by the financial gain to the planning applicant.

The High Court quashed that planning permission following a Judicial Review by a local resident - strongly supported by the majority of the Local Community who objected.

The applicant then asked for a redetermination of the Planning Application and again the Planning Officers and the AONB Board recommended refusal, this time on the basis of the harm to the AONB and to local Heritage Assets, and again the Planning Committee resolved by a narrow margin to grant planning permission. However, before South Hams Council could issue the planning permission, the Secretary of State for Local Government and Communities, Greg Clarke MP, Called In the Case so he could decide whether or not to grant planning permission in the light of his new policy on onshore wind turbine development. This new policy states renewable energy sites must be identified in Neighbourhood Plans and be supported by the Local Community. This Planning Application has neither.

A Planning Inquiry is therefore now to be held on 6^th September 2016 at Follaton House Council Offices, Totnes. Following the Inquiry the Planning Inspector will report to the Secretary of State with his recommendation to approve or refuse. The Secretary of State will then decide whether to grant planning permission or not.

View from Molescombe where again at the centre of the horizon the Turbine will be fully visible.

Why this matters to you

The Wind Turbine will affect the whole of the Local Community and be visible for miles across the South Hams.

The iconic Salcombe & Kingsbridge Estuary within the AONB must be saved to preserve the landscape and countryside. This is an area dependent on Tourism and Retirement to support the local economy, upon which all the local tradesman and small businesses depend. A point referred to (and accepted) by a Planning Inspector at a recent Appeal for a Solar Farm.

Why we need your help

Planning Inquiries are expensive and the Local Community have, on advice, instructed a Barrister and expert Landscape, Heritage and Planning Consultants to help make their case for them, but they need to raise monies to do so as funds are now exhausted by the Judicial Review and associated matters (such as an Injunction to stop the applicant continuing Groundworks for the Turbine without Planning Permission).

The Local Community have already raised £20,000 to undertake the legal work so far. However we still need at least £20,000 more for our legal fees, to ensure a compelling case is put to the Planning Inspectorate at the Inquiry. 

We really NEED YOUR HELP to stop the  Industrialisation of the Landscape and preserve jobs and small businesses.

About the claimant

My name is David Hayward, I'm a local resident who has support from the Local Community who have got behind me to fight this application due to the impact it will have on the Landscape, the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and tourism that so many local people depend on.

Fast facts

• What’s at stake

The beauty and integrity of an exceptional piece of unspoilt Devon landscape, and the dependability – for every other case and community like ours – of all the legislation and guidelines that protect it.

• What’s the next step

A Public Inquiry: Having been Called In for the Secretary of State to make the Planning decision, a Public Inquiry will be held on 6th September 2016

• Our legal team

Susan Ring of Richard Buxton Solicitors, Barrister Charles Banner, and Planning, Heritage and Landscape Consultants.