ALMOST 500 properties in North Tawton and the surrounding area will be able to claim £108 off their electricity bills each year once the controversial Den Brook Wind Farm is fully operational. The Local Electricity Discount Scheme, LEDS, has been developed by RES, the company developing the wind farm. It is seen by the firm as a new form of benefit for communities hosting its wind farms. The scheme is open to all residential, business and community buildings that have an electricity meter and are within the eligible area — within 2.3 kilometres of the nine turbine wind farm. The likes of schools and village halls are included in the scheme. The wind farm has proven controversial since the plans for nine 120-metre turbines at the site were originally submitted in 2005 by RES. The Den Brook Judicial Review Group fought the scheme for more than five years, and local residents had expressed concerns that such a scheme would create noise pollution from generators and the swishing of turbines, disturbing the rural peace. More than 3,000 letters of objection were received when the plans were originally turned down by West Devon Borough Council. The plans went through a public inquiry twice, but following a lengthy legal battle, the plans were given the green light by appeal court judges in 2011. Alison Jones, RES community relations manager, said: 'LEDS delivers direct and tangible benefits to people living and working closest to our wind farms in the form of a discount to their electricity bills. 'Feedback received from consultation with communities near both existing and potential wind farms has highlighted that people feel cheaper electricity is a practical benefit RES could offer. 'We have introduced the scheme successfully at other sites around the UK and I'm delighted that RES is now able to offer LEDS to people living and working near the Den Brook wind farm.' LEDS is being offered in addition to a community benefit fund of at least £36,000 per year for investment in local community projects. The addition of LEDS brings the total package of community benefits at Den Brook Wind Farm to more than £2-million over the life time of the wind farm. RES has written directly to the properties around the site that would be eligible to receive the electricity discount under LEDS, offering people the opportunity to register their interest in the scheme. Participation in the scheme is entirely voluntary, with the discount paid directly to the relevant electricity supplier for the operational life of the wind farm. Alison Jones said: 'The discount, which is index linked, will be paid for the full operational life of the wind farm — around 25 years. 'If someone moves out of an eligible property during that time, then the annual discount will become available to the new electricity bill payer for the property.'