The spread of wind turbines across the Westcountry has slowed in the wake of Government guidelines designed to prevent council decisions being routinely overturned on appeal, the Western Morning News has found.

Communities secretary Eric Pickles introduced the policy steer for planners last summer in a bid to quell a growing backlash against the proliferation of renewable energy schemes, seen as electorally damaging in the Tory rural heartland.

The so-called "Pickles effect" appears to have swung the balance back in favour of communities, with a 31% drop in the number of successful appeals by developers since the new rules took effect.

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