MALDON District Council could be set to get a refund of over £100,000 after incurring unnecessary costs fighting an appeal against the proposed Bradwell wind farm.
The council paid out for solicitors and staff costs in the lead up to the second planning inquiry in 2009 but looks set to recover £107,945 from the Government.
During the second inquiry, residents’ opposition group Bradwell and Tillingham Tackling Lost Environment (Battle) succeeded in overturning the planning inspector’s original ruling, which granted Npower planning permission, because of errors in the first inspector’s ruling.
The Department for Communities and Local Government has passed the matter on to the Treasury which will decide how much the council is entitled to get back next week.
Npower Renewables was given permission at a planning appeal to build a ten-turbine wind farm at Hockley Farm near Bradwell in September 2007 but residents’ opposition group (Battle) have since fought the plans.
A final decision on the Bradwell wind farm will be made at a High Court hearing from March 1 to March 3.
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