Minister approves windfarm plan

The government has approved plans for an 18-turbine windfarm in north Northumberland.

Npower Renewables Ltd, wants to build the 150m (492ft) turbines on a site at Middlemoor, near Alnwick.

The Alnwick Garden Trust objected to the proposals and ministerial approval is subject to a solution being found to the impact on a local RAF radar base.

Energy Secretary John Hutton's decision to approve the windfarm, followed a public inquiry last year.

Too large

Npower said the windfarm would provide enough power for 27,600 homes - the equivalent of every home in both Alnwick and Berwick.

Objectors claimed the windfarm was too large and would spoil the Northumberland landscape.

But the company said the development would be in a sparsely-populated area and would co-exist with existing agricultural practices to support farm diversification.

A spokesman added: "There is an urgent need to tackle climate change and Northumberland is making poor progress towards its target of producing 10% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2010."