East Yorkshire villagers win battle to stop 492ft wind turbines looming over Hockney landscape

The 492ft-high structures would have loomed over the rolling Yorkshire Wolds landscape - which inspired some of the late artist's most celebrated paintings.

But planning chiefs have now thrown out the controversial scheme, citing threats to historic landmarks, villagers' homes and even military radar.

Rob Booth, 58, a resident and member of campaign group Keep Wind Off Woldgate, said: "We are all so relieved - the phones in the village were alive when we heard the decision.

"We did so much work to raise our concerns about this wholly inappropriate development, so it's a very welcome decision - but it's still not properly sunk in yet!"

East Riding of Yorkshire Council refused the application by Three Oaks REP Extension Ltd on Monday, October 26, handing residents a major victory after months of opposition.

The proposals would have seen six turbines built at Thornholme Fields, near Burton Agnes.

A 300ft-high meteorological mast, underground cables, transformer kiosks, crane pads and access tracks were also included.

But in a report setting out five reasons for refusal, council planners warned the development would cause "a high level of harm" to some of the area's most treasured landmarks.

These included Burton Agnes Hall, its Grade I-listed gatehouse, All Saints Church in Rudston and the ancient Rudston Monolith.

Rob said: "The field that would have hosted the wind farm bordered Woldgate, an ancient lane made famous by David Hockney who painted it many times when he lived here.

"I think he would be very relieved - like us - that the plans are not going ahead.

"It's a really special little area and the windfarm would have blighted it for generations to come."

He added: "The plans have caused an immense amount of worry and stress to people living here and we have yet to find anyone in favour of it."

Residents feared the structures would transform a landscape made famous worldwide by Hockney.

The Bradford-born painter, who died in June aged 88, regularly travelled along Woldgate to his studio in Bridlington, drawing inspiration from its woods and fields.

He painted the area repeatedly, including in his acclaimed 2011 iPad series The Arrival of Spring, created over six months.

One of his Woldgate Woods works sold for £9.4million in New York in 2016.

Hockney himself had opposed wind turbines in the area, describing them as "big ugly things".

He said: "I certainly wouldn't paint them. They are unnatural.

"People should stand up for themselves and say no to these things if they don't agree with them."

Officials said the benefits of the scheme were "not considered sufficient to outweigh this significant high level of harm".

Planners branded the proposed turbines "a prominent and incongruous feature within the landscape" and warned of "unacceptable adverse effects on visual amenity".

They said the structures would damage the Yorkshire Wolds Important Landscape Area, compounding the impact of an already approved solar farm nearby.

The enormous blades would also appear as "overbearing and visually dominant features" from nearby homes.

Planners also warned the turbines could interfere with air defence radar at RRH Staxton Wold and obstruct low-level military flying.

Local councillor Denise Howard said that Hockney would be "heartbroken" to see six giant turbines on the landscape that inspired his works.

The Three Oaks Renewable Energy Park Extension would have sat beside an approved 161-acre solar farm and battery storage project.

Developer Ridge Clean Energy said the 25.2MW scheme could generate electricity equivalent to the annual needs of around 24,000 households.

Three Oaks REP Extension Ltd has been asked for comment.