Home near wind turbine approved despite noise concerns

A barn is to be converted into someone’s “forever home” despite worries about future complaints from a wind turbine nearly a quarter of a mile away.

Torridge District Council’s planning committee was warned that if it approved the application near the Higher Darracott Wind Farm, Great Torrington, later noise complaints could affect the operation of the business.

But members concluded that any noise over and above the legal level was “marginal” and was outweighed by bringing a redundant building back in use for a local family.

Applicant Grace Martin, whose family farm in the area, wants the barn to be the “forever home” for her and her partner.

But recorded noise levels from the wind farm are very slightly over that allowable: 45.1 decibels outside the building, rather than 45.

She said if they were building next to an airport or a main road the level would be set 50 decibels and added: “There is a hostility towards wind turbines in rural areas which has led to overly conservative policies.”

Cllr Kit Hepple (Ind, Milton and Tamarside) said he would rather listen to a windfarm 330 metres away than a dog barking next door.

The applicants proposed triple glazing so the noise could not be heard indoors.

Councillors were recommended by planning officers to reject the plan after advice from the authority’s environmental protection team who said the windfarm would have a detrimental impact on the living conditions for the applicant as well as future residents.

They said that the noise limit for properties where the occupants were not benefitting from the wind turbines, as in this case, was 35 decibels.

But Cllr Doug Smith (Lib Dem, Great Torrington), a retired sound engineer, said background noise in the countryside was between 25 and 30 decibels and the legislation wasn’t perfect.

“It depends on the wind and other factors. A receptor 10 metres down the road could tell you something different. The figures here are so marginal, I think we should approve it.”

The other nearest buildings to the windfarm are 580 metres and 470 metres away and measures were put in place when the windfarm was approved so these homes weren’t significantly affected.

The council’s head of legal and governance Staci Dorey said officers had taken a cautious approach to the application because if someone make a complaint about the noise in future, the council would have to investigate it.

But she added that the council would not be liable for any prosecution if it gave planning permission as it would not be causing the noise nuisance. There was, however, a possibility it could have an impact on the windfarm business which has permission to operate until 2046.

Cllr Chris Leather (Ind, Northam) said it was amazing that Torridge was almost trying to protect itself from complaints about noise from people who might live in the property in the future.

“When you have an applicant who is happy about the situation, you have to take that into consideration. The conversion of a redundant barn to give a local family a home outweighs the possible negative impact from the sound of the nearest wind turbine.”

The application was supported unanimously.