In June 2007 developer SLP of Lowestoft requested a scoping opinion from SNDC (Ref: 2007/1342) for a seven turbine windfarm development on land owned by Vaunces Farm, Pulham, on the site of a disused WWII airfield with historic connection to wartime airship manufacture ("The Pulham Pigs").  After receiving the scoping opinion and commencing necessary Environmental Impact Assessments, and following robust objections raised by local action group 4Villages (4V), SLP decided to withdraw from the site due they said to the extent of contamination of the land caused by wartime useage and dumped munitions and other toxic substances in the soils.

However, celebrations within 4V were short-lived as along came developer TCI Renewables and in November 2008 resurrected the use of the site; this time for a reduced development of three 125m turbines.  They accordingly requested a scoping opinion which was provided to be followed shortly by a planning application for a meteorological test mast which after much debate was granted and erected.  Clearly, TCI do not have the same environmental contamination fears as expressed by SLP previously.

This development site at Pulham / Semere Green is under 2km distant from that proposed at Tivetshall and in fact both test mast (albeit they are only 50m and 60m high respectively) can be seen from various locations around the villages - so we will certainly see both sets of turbines at 125m and 140m height with certain properties being exposed to noise and shadow flicker from turbines either side of them.

The relative closeness of these two site at under 2km raises questions as to cummulative viability with special reference to recommendations, quoted by David Linley of Enertrag relative to their Pickenham site (Enertrag letter October 2009), whereas turbine clusters should not be erected closer than 5km from another development.  It is clear from SNDC records that SLP requested a scoping opinion for the Pulham airfield site in June 2007; 8 months prior to Enertrag applying for the Tivetshall development during February 2008.

TCI have advised that they intend a full planning application early spring 2010 which will coincide with Enertrag's application for Tivetshall.

Follow this link for a map showing TCI Renewable's proposals for turbine locations on this site - TCI Turbine Map

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LATEST NEWS

TCI renewables submitted their full planning application to SNDC on 10th March 2010 for 3 x 125m turbines at the Vaunces Farm (Pulham Airfield) site which members of 4V objected to in the strongest of terms.  All TAG members were encouraged to join with 4V in this endevour to defeat this application, just 2km east of the proposed Tivetshall site and both developments will effect all of us.  Letters of objection in large numbers were writen to SNDC Case Officer accordingly.

Photographs were taken from viewpoints in Tivetshall on the day 4V flew their air balloon (blimp) to demonstrate the 125m turbine height.  These clearly show the over-powering size of these industrial structures within the countryside surrounding our villages.  The balloon, depicting blade-tip height is highlighted in red. (Photgraphs to follow soon).

TAG is pleased to report that this application was refused by SNDC Planning Committee.  TCI Renewables, as expected, did appeal this decision and a formal hearing was opened in early June 2011.  The hearing period run out of time before all evidence was heard and a further date to resume was to be set for November 2011.  However, in the period since, the land-owner has constructed a substantially sized water reservoir on land relatively close to turbines and adjacent properties and it has been considered necessary by the Inspector that this material event needs to be considered before reaching a conclusion to the appeal.  Accordingly TCI Renewables have been required to undertake further EIA surveys under Regulation 19 and once these are available then the appeal will be reconvened. With the appeal therefore suspended and TCI arranging the further EIA surveys, which will then need to be sent out for statutory consultation, it is not anticipated that the appeal will reconvene until early spring 2012

It can be seen elsewhere on this site that the appeal did take place and the application was refused.  Despite this, just a few months later TCI are preparing to re-submit an application on the same site for the same number and height of turbines but placed in a closer configuration, which they say will mitigate the reasons for refusal.  We don't think so.........and the fight will resume.