A wind turbine at Bank House Farm in The Delph, Spalding, could be replaced with a newer model producing more than four times the output of the existing machine under plans submitted to South Holland District Council.
The proposal concerns one of two turbines operating at the farm. It would remove an existing 50kW turbine, which stands 36 metres high, and replace it with a new turbine capable of producing 225kW, subject to planning approval.
What is being proposed
The replacement turbine would have a hub height of 40 metres, a rotor diameter of 29 metres and a total blade-tip height of 54.5 metres. The farm’s second existing turbine would remain in place and would not be affected by the application.
The supporting document says the project would increase the farm’s renewable-energy capacity and support its long-term sustainability. It says the new turbine would produce substantially more power despite being a similar-sized model to the original, because of advances in turbine technology since the existing machines were installed.
“The replacement will increase the farm’s renewable energy capacity, supporting its long-term sustainability,”
The statement appears in a document submitted in support of the application. The same document sets out the proposed turbine’s dimensions and confirms that the second turbine would be retained.
Existing turbines and site history
Both of the original turbines were installed at the farm after planning permission was initially granted in 2012. According to the submitted report, they have operated since then without recorded adverse impacts on local amenity or the surrounding environment.
The application also says the site already has established access arrangements. Delivery of the replacement turbine would use the existing farm access, which has previously been used to deliver and erect both current machines.
“They have been operational since without giving rise to any recorded adverse impacts on local amenity or the surrounding environment. The site benefits from established access arrangements, and the delivery of the replacement turbine will be managed via the existing farm access, which has previously accommodated the delivery and erection of both existing machines,”
Renewable power and planning decision
Any electricity generated by the farm that is not required on site is sold back to the National Grid, according to the application material. The report argues that the increased generation would provide a greater renewable-energy benefit while creating only limited additional harm because of the proposed increase in scale.
“The gain in renewable energy generation is considered to outweigh the limited harm arising from this modest increase in scale,”
The application remains subject to South Holland District Council’s planning process. The supplied material does not include an application reference, consultation deadline or date for a decision, so it is not yet known when the council will determine the proposal.