A SMALL-SCALE wind turbine on farmland near a village is being recommended to be given approval.

Alastair Mackenzie has applied to erect a 20-metre high turbine at Newton Grange Farm, near Sadberge.

His proposals would provide electricity for the farm, with Mr Mackenzie, who lives in Sadberge, recoupingmoney through a carbon cashback scheme. He hopes the proposals will help to offset his own carbon emissions.

Although Mr Mackenzie is clerk for Sadberge Parish Council, the application has been submitted in a private capacity.

His application will be discussed at a meeting of Darlington Borough Council's planning committee on Wednesday.

Officers have recommended that the application should be approved.

In a report, planning officers said: "Because of the limited scale of the proposed development, it is considered that the visual impact of the wind turbine on the character of this particular locality will be limited and not sufficient so as to warrant a refusal of planning permission."

Three villagers objected because they said the wind turbine would cause a "visual intrusion on the rural area", add industrial features to the landscape and set a precedent for other structures.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England has also objected because of precedence grounds.

A number of companies have either applied or intend to build wind farms in the Sadberge area.

The meeting takes place on Wednesday, April 6, at 1.30pm in the town hall.