THE five-year battle to build a controversial windfarm in West Devon's Den Brook Valley is finally over.

Permission for nine 120metre high wind turbines has now been given by a government planning inspector, following a second public inquiry into the scheme earlier this year.

It leaves the project developers jubilant — and protestors angry that their long campaign against the wind farm plan has failed.

During the second inquiry held in November, Renewable Energy Systems (RES) gave evidence to demonstrate how the project will generate clean, renewable electricity equivalent to the annual needs of more than 8,000 homes in West Devon.

Project manager for RES, Rachel Ruffle, said the turbines would contribute to important regional and national renewable energy targets and help cut carbon dioxide emissions.

Ms Ruffle said: 'We are absolutely delighted that after nearly five years in planning, the Den Brook wind farm can finally go ahead.

'At a time when world leaders are gathering in Copenhagen to try to come to an important deal on climate change, it is heartening to know that renewable energy projects are being consented here at home, and that we can make a difference on the ground.

'Our team presented a solid case demonstrating that the project has been designed sensitively and will be an asset to the local community.

'We are pleased the inspector recognised this and that we can now start planning for construction. We are also excited about taking forward our plans to offer shares in the wind farm to local people.'

Ms Ruffle said the main reason the project went to a second public inquiry was because of concerns about the noise impact of the turbines.

'We have always been confident that the wind farm was designed to safeguard local residents against noise nuisance, and this has now been endorsed by the planning inspector's decision.

'It has been a long and expensive process for all concerned, but we stuck with it, because we knew it was the type of good renewable energy project that has to go ahead if we are to meet our renewable energy targets, tackle climate change and have a secure and reliable source of energy in years to come.'

RES hopes the wind farm will bring local benefits, including a £27,000 a year community fund to be spent on local projects, and funding for improvements to Dartmoor Railway, which will benefit commuters between Exeter and Okehampton.

The company also hope to generate jobs during construction, with local sourcing of labour and materials wherever possible, a sustainable income for farmers who own the land and improvements to wildlife habitats at the site, as well as the possibility of community ownership of the wind farm.

Construction should start in early 2011.

In his decision, Inspector Andrew Pykett said he had sought to balance any adverse effects on the locality against the widely accepted benefits of renewable energy generation.

He said: 'Subject to some important conditions, I have concluded that the effect of the scheme is likely to fall within the limits which were designed, in part, for the protection of wind farm neighbours.'

Following the planning appeal result, a spokesman for West Devon Borough Council said: 'We are disappointed that the planning inspectorate has decided to allow the appeal at Den Brook Valley.

'The inspector felt that although there will be an impact on the rural environment in allowing this, the harm caused could be outweighed by the renewable energy benefits of the development.

'We are in the process of analysing the inspector's decision, and will issue a more comprehensive statement in due course.'

Mike Hulme from the Den Brook Judicial Review Group (DBJRG), said: 'I rather think RES will be hammering their calculators over the coming weeks, in order to determine whether or not the scheme remains viable and sufficiently profitable to attract private sector financing.  

'I know most people in the area are extremely disappointed the development has been approved this time around, but the inspector has at least tried to provide satisfactory protection from the noise impacts that RES has consistently sought to sweep under the carpet.

'Whether he has succeeded is still an open question, and we are working through the conditions with this in mind.'

Mr Hulme said it could take a while for DBJRG's team to closely examine the finer details of the decision. 

'Some rather worrying revelations, resulting from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request I made more than two years ago had come to light since the inquiry closed.

'These were published in the Sunday Times last weekend and we will need to consider them in the context of the planning approval.

'Documents released only a week ago show how the Government department concerned with renewable energy development suppressed recommendations, from its own commissioned consultants, that night-time noise limits for wind farm developments ought to be lowered by up to eight decibels in order to provide adequate protection against sleep disturbance and possible consequential damage to health.'

More details and the released FOI documents are posted on the DBJRG's website at http://www.denbrookvalley.co.uk">www.denbrookvalley.co.uk