Eden suspends giant turbine plan

A plan to build a wind turbine twice the height of Nelson's Column in Cornwall has been put on hold.

There had been fierce local opposition to proposals to erect the 127m (420ft) high turbine at the Eden Project.

Instead the ecological tourist attraction and a community group will join forces to develop a sustainable energy strategy for the whole area.

Restormel Borough Council had been due to consider planning permission for the turbine on Thursday.

A wider group from the community will need to be engaged in order to make it happen Tim Smit, Eden Project

Eden, which is near St Austell, and the Neighbours' Forum hope to come up with a plan to ensure energy security and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Tim Smit, Eden's chief executive, said: "If we can make this work, we hope that the model can be replicated elsewhere.

"A wider group from the community will need to be engaged in order to make it happen."

Ron Shapland, chairman of the Neighbours' Forum, said: "We welcome Eden's decision to withdraw the application and look forward to further discussions around how Eden and the neighbouring community can explore an energy solution to benefit everyone."