Developers behind a controversial plan to build a wind farm in Holton have been given the green light to remove a noise reduction condition.

Temporis Capital want to put up five turbines on land owned by Bernard Matthews at Upper Holton Airfield, but a clause was stamped on the application to keep the swish and thump of the blades under control, known as amplitude modulation.

During Waveney District Council’s development control committee on Tuesday evening, members agreed to lift the stipulation, reasoning that it is hard to identify what it is and what causes it.

Andrew Reynolds, Waveney’s head of environmental health said: “I don’t understand what it is, if I did I would make a fortune. There is no recognised methodology of quantifying it. The method of quantifying it is imprecise.”

Tony Goldson, county councillor for the area, revealed that 85pc of residents did not want the intrusion.

He said it would cause a serious disturbance that would effect the residents’ quality of life and the condition was needed as a safeguard for the residents.

He added: “The application makes no mention of safeguarding our residents.”

Commitee member Alison Cackett of Blything ward asked why the company was asking for the condition to be removed as it implied they were concerned about AM.

She asked if the applicant would work with residents and the council to overcome possible problems.

John Fairlie, agent for Temporis Capital spoke only to say: “We are seeking to have the condition removed.”

Duncan Embey, spokesman for Westhall Wind Watch, which was set up to fight the proposals, asked for the company to consider devising a suitable process for the measurement and control of AM noise to satisfy all parties.

A company in west Devon previously withdrew an application after research by the Institution of Sound and Vibration Research suggested other means to identify it.

The turbines will be 100m high with 40m long blades.