Inquiry backs Devon wind farm

A planning appeal has found in favour of a proposed wind farm near Crediton in Devon. The project had been rejected by West Devon Council previously.

The inspector ruled that the nine-turbine Den Brook development can now be built. The proposal had been granted planning permission in 2006 initially but that consent was overturned following a judicial review instigated by objectors.

Rachel Ruffle, development director of RES, said: "We are delighted. It's been in planning for nearly five years. "It's a particularly good time with concerns about climate change top of the agenda that well-designed projects are allowed to go ahead."

Local people will be given priority to buy shares in the Den Brook development at £1 a share.

Ms Ruffle said: "We are very keen to explore how residents local to Den Brook could be offered a stake in the wind farm as a way to reap some direct benefit from the project once it is up and running."