They have been filming for more than eight years, in the Melgven countryside, a few kilometers from Concarneau and Rosporden. The three Kergleuziou wind turbines, with their height of 118 m and their power of 2 MW each, have just been the subject of a judgment that some already consider historic.
In a ruling dated March 12, 2024, the Rennes Court of Appeal handed down sentences against a wind farm developer who will have to compensate thirteen local residents, in compensation for the loss of market value of their real estate. .
“An impact (…) on the habitability of the property”
These residents, living between 500 m and 1,300 m from the wind turbines, will therefore have to be compensated for sums ranging from 15 to 40% of the value of their house. Or from €27,000 to €80,000, for those closest to the facilities. Result, a total sum of €633,400 to be paid to local residents, to which is added the reimbursement of more than €24,000 in expert assessment costs and €65,000 (€5,000 each) for irrecoverable costs. Total amount to be paid: €722,478.
“Permanent visual impact”, “perpetual noise”, “medically certified negative effects on health”, “electromagnetic disruption of the internet, television or mobile telephone”… The Court of Appeal recognized the existence of multiple nuisances , both visual and audible, as well as health and electromagnetic. It also reports “deterioration of the landscape and the living environment”. With, on arrival, for all these homes, “a current, direct and certain impact on the habitability of the property”.
A long administrative and judicial journey
The wind turbine project in Kergleuziou was launched in 2002, led by the company P & T Technologie. Very quickly, the file encountered strong opposition. After numerous twists and turns and a long administrative process (prefecture, administrative justice, up to the Council of State), the building permit was definitively validated in 2014.
The work began the following year, and the commissioning of the wind turbines was effective in December 2015. In the process, around twenty local residents undertook to launch another procedure, before the Quimper high court, aimed at The operator, the company FP Lux Wind Melgven, based in Vern-sur-Seiche (35). Another long legal battle, brought to a conclusion by sixteen of them, thirteen of whom ultimately won their case. Claims for compensation for property depreciation made by three local residents were rejected.
“Major repercussions”?
The decision of the Rennes Court of Appeal delights the associations of opponents of “industrial wind power”. Starting with the Sustainable Environment Federation (which claims to bring together some 1,700 associations and federations). In a press release, it considers that this judgment is “of capital importance in the dispute between a wind farm developer and local residents affected by these machines”. According to the FED, “this decision could have major repercussions on the entire wind industry”.
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