Decision on eco-home with wind turbine plan deferred

PLANNERS at Barnsley council have put off a decision on whether to permit the construction of a new eco-home and wind turbine in Hoylandswaine in a project which would provide experience for construction students.

Angela Pears wants to erect the home on land at Crabtree Arena, Firs Lane but there is an objection from Penistone Town Council.

A report says the site of the proposed building previously operated as a farm yard and currently consists of a number of unattractive farm buildings set in a courtyard. The farm has not been operational for many years and the agricultural buildings are in a state of disrepair.

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The innovative plan by Mrs Pears is to demolish various of the agricultural buildings and erect one eco-home and a garage. In addition she wants to set up a domestic free-standing turbine with a height of 6.5m.

A bat survey has revealed that there is no evidence of any bats within the buildings to be demolished and the turbine is 50m away from any area of bat foraging.

The report says: “Given the design of the dwelling and the proposed landscaping in-between it is not considered that there would be any significant loss of light or privacy to near neighbours.”

The idea of the project is to use the scheme as a training and education model in close conjunction with Barnsley College and where pupils could visit during the construction stages of the development as well as undertaking monitoring and analysis of the finished development over a number of years.

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Penistone Town Council has objected, claiming the project will intrude on the Green Belt, but the report says that although normally there is a “presumption against inappropriate development in the Green Belt” on this occasion an exception is merited in part because of “the opportunities to be given to Barnsley College students.”

It says there is also the benefit of the removal of existing dilapidated buildings along with various visual improvements.

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