A GREATER number of wind turbine appeals are being turned down by the planning inspectorate following new planning guidance, West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox was told by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The MP secured the debate at the House of Commons in response to the hundreds of letters and emails he receives each month regarding the proliferation of wind turbines in his constituency, to which he has long objected.

Mr Cox believed the proliferation of applications for turbines was affecting the communities, and that commercial turbine developers wielded much greater economic muscle than the smaller district councils.

He said: 'When one reads a typical planning inspector's reasoning, one is struck by what appears to be either a philistine incomprehension of the damaging nature of these intrusions into the unspoiled rural nature of our landscape, or a deliberate downplaying of its significance in favour of the supposed benefits of this type of renewable energy.'

Speaking at the Westminster debate, parliamentary under-secretary of state Kris Hopkins stated the department's commitment to safeguarding the natural environment and to giving communities a greater say over planning decisions in their local area.

He stressed that as part of this commitment, planning regulations changed at the end of 2013 to ensure that pre-application consultations were compulsory for all proposed developments of two or more turbines, or where the hub height of any turbine exceeds 15 metres.

Mr Cox said: 'Planning applications for wind turbines cause real disruption, dismay and distress. We as the Government must attempt to do something to redress the balance in the planning equation, between the needs of local communities and the requirement for renewable energy.

'While there appears to be a definite shift in the right direction, based on the Minister's words at the debate, there is still a great deal more to be done to stop these giant wind turbines from damaging our beautiful and historic landscape.

'Therefore, I very much hope that the strength of feeling demonstrated at the debate will encourage the Minister to take further steps to reduce the threat from wind turbines across the South West.'

• Eight applications were received by West Devon Borough Council between April 1, 2013 and March 14, 2014. Out of those applications, three applications were given conditional consent.