11 May 2007 00:00
E.ON UK withdraws appeal over proposed Denshaw wind farm, could reinstate later

E.ON UK, one of the country’s leading green generators, has today (MAY 11th) announced that it was withdrawing its appeal over its proposed Denshaw wind farm.

The company has decided to withdraw its current appeal after its request to postpone the start of the planning inquiry about the wind farm was turned down. E.ON is still considering its options in respect of the wind farm proposal and retains the option of submitting a revised planning application at a later date.

Matt Pinfield, E.ON UK’s project developer, said: “We’re extremely disappointed that the Planning Inspectorate turned down our request to postpone the public inquiry which would have meant they could also have looked at our plans to put the power cables underground.

“We still believe Denshaw is an excellent place for a wind farm and that the changes we made to the design – removing one turbine, reducing the height of another and taking the more expensive option of undergrounding power lines – made it a very attractive scheme.

“We certainly haven’t given up hope of getting this project approved and of it being able to make a difference in the fight against climate change.”
E.ON’s plans initially called for seven turbines up to 105m tall to tip to be built. They have since been altered to six turbines, with one of those six being reduced in height, with smaller access roads. A further alteration would have seen power cables buried underground to reduce the visual impact of the scheme.

Ends

Notes to editors:
• E.ON is the UK’s largest integrated power and gas company – generating, distributing and retailing electricity – and is part of the E.ON group, the world's largest private-sector energy services company. We employ around 16,000 people in the UK;
• Our retail business, branded Powergen, is a leading energy supplier in the UK, with around 8.5 million electricity and gas customer accounts, both domestic and SME.

For more information contact:
Jamee Majid on 024 7618 3679
Jane Branscombe on 024 7618 3681