MUCH needed new industrial units in Okehampton will not be served by renewable wind energy after borough councillors last week rejected a proposal to build a small wind turbine on the site. The development known as Opportunity Okehampton will constitute 16 light industrial units and ancillary spaces. The site of the new industrial area is on the north side of Exeter Road between the road and railway line, close to Mole Avon. West Devon Borough Council, which made the application, said the industrial site would help create new jobs and small business opportunities. The Opportunity Okehampton site will help the borough council to meet its policy requirement to provide 30ha of employment land under structure plan policy. Planning officers were also hoping the council would show its willingness to work toward renewable energy guidelines by including a 15kw wind turbine on a 15m pole as part of the scheme. Against the wishes of the planning committee chairman, members meeting in Tavistock last week gave a split decision, approving the proposed industrial units but turning down the wind turbine. Members were concerned about being seen to approve its own proposals for wind turbines, while turning down others. Borough council head of planning Stephen Gill said: ?This was a very small wind turbine and officers? view was that it didn?t have anywhere near the impact as other cases which have previously been turned down, particularly Yelland Farm.? The building will, however, incorporate photovoltaic solar power cells within the roof. The planning officers? report to members noted: ?It is accepted that there would be views of the turbine from the National Park and the rural hinterland to the north of Okehampton, however, it is considered that its visual presence in the landscape would be acceptably mitigated by its relatively small size and industrial setting. ?Accordingly, it is considered that it would not appear as an unacceptable alien or jarring feature.? The site has historically been owned and promoted by SWRDA and has previously been granted planning permission for industrial use, though these have now lapsed. Mr Gill said not all the consultation comments had been received at the time of the meeting, and said the issue may have to be looked at again in light of these further consultations. l An application to build 190 new homes on land to the south of Exeter Road and west of Fatherford Lane was also discussed at the meeting. The application by developers Barratt Homes and Bellway Homes was deferred to resolve outstanding matters.
