THE firm behind a proposal to build a biomass plant in the village of Winkleigh has confirmed it has registered an appeal against the scheme's refusal by Torridge District Council. The Planning Inspectorate have now validated Peninsula Power Limited's (PPL) application to appeal following the planning decision against its Winbeg scheme on April 4 this year. The plant proposed to be built on the former World War Two airfield at Winkleigh would use energy crops such as miscanthus grass to supply a gas turbine which produces energy. Peninsula Power managing director, Roger Barton said: 'The decision to appeal was made upon detailed legal and planning consultancy advice. PPL and its advisors believe that the original decision was seriously flawed, and we have a very strong case. 'We believe that the appeal can and should succeed on planning merit alone, but there are also numerous economic and environmental factors working in favour of the project, including a revised renewables obligation which is likely to offer increased financial support for projects of this kind.' Mr. Barton added that the recent Stern economic review of the implications of climate change considerably enhanced the logic for renewable energy projects of all types, which was mirrored by the Government's strengthening of the statutory planning process in favour of renewable energy projects. Mr Barton also said after what he called a 'cautious start', the farming industry's interest in energy crops was 'increasing rapidly'. The appeal process has now started, but a date for the public inquiry has not yet been fixed.