Loppem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The planned 200m wind turbine in Loppem, Zedelgem, set to power 7,000 homes, was cancelled after 882 resident objections, municipal opposition, and heritage concerns. Alderman Stijn Timmerman agreed with the decision.
As VRT News reported, a plan to build a giant wind turbine in Loppem, near Zedelgem, in the province of West Flanders, Belgium, will not move forward after opposition from residents. The turbine would have been over 200 meters tall and capable of producing electricity for nearly 7,000 households.
Local people submitted 882 objections in the public consultation. The plan was to site the turbine between the Molendreef and the E403. The turbine could potentially be used to supply renewable energy to the grid, but the size of the turbine and its location were of huge concern to many residents due to its visual impact on the area.
What led to the cancellation of the 200m Loppem wind turbine for 7,000 homes?
The Zedelgem municipality was also opposed to the project and submitted a negative opinion on the environmental permit in April 2025. They then expressed that the noise pollution and shadow flicker present a danger to a residential area located within 400 meters of the nearby site. The environmental permit application also neglected to mention the surrounding green space and cultural heritage due to the presence of Loppem Castle, a significant heritage property.
Alderman for the Environment, Stijn Timmerman (CD&V), agreed with the decision to cancel the planned wind turbine in Loppem, near Zedelgem.
“It is a huge relief,”
he said.
“I am especially pleased that the municipality’s negative recommendation and the many objections submitted by residents were headed.”
The minister responsible for environmental permits cited several reasons for rejecting the project. These included the unacceptable impact on the landscape and the proximity to heritage sites such as Loppem Castle.
The minister also mentioned that the project developer had already proposed many measures to reduce the turbine’s impact, but these were not enough to approve it at this location. The developer still has the right to appeal the decision.
The project to construct wind turbines in the Loppem, Zedelgem region dates back to 2018, when preliminary studies were conducted to assess renewable energy opportunities. In 2020, the initial formal proposal for a large turbine close to Loppem was made, but this faced early resistance from residents and heritage groups.
Public consultations were held in 2023, where hundreds of objections were noted. The municipality has raised repeated complaints regarding noise, shadow flicker, and the proximity of the turbine to residential houses over the years.
