Copeland council initially denied planning permission for the 48m-high turbine at Boonwood Farm in March 2015, having received 48 letters of objection from concerned locals and Distington Parish Council.
An appeal by the landowner David Christopherson has now been turned down by the government’s Planning Inspectorate.
Inspector Keith Manning agreed with Copeland’s assessment that the turbine would be “unacceptably harmful in visual and landscape terms”.
He said that although there are “significant” benefits to the scheme, in terms of renewable energy and diversification of the farm business, they are outweighed by the negatives.
He added: “A significant concern, in my estimation, would be the prospect of the turbine in the landscape from most parts of the town of Distington, from which it would be perceived as the defining feature of the hillside above the town in southward views, standing well forward of the turbines already protruding above the skyline.
“Viewed in its entirety, it is entirely out of scale with the distinctive pastoral landscape of the valley side.
“The appearance of the area would be significantly altered from one of a relatively undisturbed, and at this point intimately experienced, rural environment upslope of the lane to one intruded upon and dominated by the turbine at fairly close quarters.
“This would, therefore, impact harmfully not only on the living conditions of these particular members of the local community but also on the public domain in the upper part of Common Side.”
At the initial Copeland council hearing, nearby resident Mark Carter said: “We were originally told that this area was suitable for three to five turbines and now our tiny little village is flooded with eight.”
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