6 days ago
New 90-metre high wind turbine could be built in village
A 90-metre high wind turbine could be erected in a village under new plans.
Octopus Energy has outlined its proposals for the development at Chipley Abbey Farm in Poslingford, near Clare, with West Suffolk Council.
The applicant states that if approved, it could power around 800 homes.
A planning statement reads: "The aim for the single wind turbine at this location is to provide additional and alternative clean energy into the grid at a time when the grid is overly constrained and blocked by ageing, fossil fuel aligned infrastructure."
The wind turbine would be 90 metres in height, and located on a 1.5 hectare site.
It would have a hub height of 59 metres and a rotor diameter of 61 metres.
An access track would be created off Upper Street, while a temporary access track would be implemented off the B1063 Folly Road.
The temporary access track would facilitate the construction, which is expected to take between four and six months.
According to the developer, the site would be decommissioned after 30 years.
The site would be located around one kilometre north of the village and around 750m from the nearest home.
"The amount of land taken up by the wind turbine development is a very small percentage of this farming estate which would be for energy production and ancillary infrastructure," the planning statement continues.
Engagement with the community revealed that 78.6% of respondents were in favour of the turbine when giving feedback.
The developer adds that £5,000 would be given to the local community every year for the duration of the project.
"A wind turbine at Chipley Abbey would provide numerous benefits locally. This would include economic benefits for the continued farming enterprise, a reduction in the reliance of fossil fuels, a community benefit fund to be administered by local people and Biodiversity Net Gain in excess of 20%," the planning statement adds.
