Wind farms proven to cut house prices by 11%, says LSE report – Telegraph

An average UK house costing £250,000 within 12 miles of a wind farm can
lose £27,000 of its value, report says

By Matthew Payton

Wind turbines are slashing the value of homes built nearby, according to a
new study into the impact of the large structures on property prices.

The study, by the London School of Economics (LSE), reviewed more than a
million homes within close proximity of large wind farms over a 12-year
period, finding that their property values fell by 11 per cent.

The report’s author, Professor Steve Gibbons, Director of LSE’s Spatial
Economics Research Centre, told the the Daily Mail: “Property prices are
going up in places where they’re not visible and down in the places where
they are.”

He stated that his research is the first powerful evidence that wind farms
are detrimental to house prices.

With the average UK house price being £250,000, the loss of value if within
12 miles of a wind farm would be £27,000.

Neighbouring homes to one of Britain’s largest onshore wind farms, Little
Cheyne Court Wind Farm in Romney Marsh, Kent, could lose up to £100,000 in
value due to the alternative energy source.

It is not only homes near large wind farms, but those situated within half
a mile of much smaller farms could still lose 7 per cent of their property
value due to blighted views.

The report additionally found that homes within 2.5 miles of large wind
farms could experience a price reduction of up to 3 per cent.

Yesterday evening, Chris Heaton Harris – MP for Daventry – backed the
report’s findings:

“There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence – especially in my constituency – of
house price reductions near wind turbines.

“The question is, will anybody be liable for these losses in future?”

Renewables UK, the public representatives for the British Wind industry
said it had yet to pass judgement on the report.

A spokesperson said: “We will be analysing the conclusions closely when the
final report is issued.”

The study is due to be published next month and has concentrated on 150
wind farm sites across England and Wales.