Controversial wind farm approved
A planning application for what would be Cornwall’s tallest wind farm proved to be a “very, very difficult” one for councillors
A planning application for what would be Cornwall’s tallest wind farm, which has received a large amount of opposition among local residents, proved to be a “very, very difficult” one for councillors yesterday (Thursday, June 12).
Ultimately, Cornwall Council’s new strategic planning committee agreed that the renewable energy benefits of 22 new turbines in the countryside near Launceston would outweigh concerns about height and landscape impact.
Cold Northcott Windfarm Ltd has proposed repowering and extending its site at Laneast, including the removal of 23 existing wind turbines and replacing them with 22 turbines up to 115 metres (377 feet) to tip. The existing wind turbines are 41.5m to blade tip. The development would be operational for 35 years and provide ten per cent of Cornwall’s energy.
The tallest onshore wind turbine in the UK is 150 metres high. The average height for a turbine in this country is 76 metres, so the proposed wind farm would be among the tallest in the UK.
There are over 140 public comments concerning the application on the council’s planning portal. Many people support the plan to replace “redundant, archaic eyesores of wind turbines” with “new, effective, efficient three-bladed turbines”. However, the vast majority of people who have commented are opposed to the development. The meeting heard that three out of five parish councils in the area supported the scheme.
Council planners agreed that the proposed wind farm would give rise to “significant adverse effects” to the landscape and would harm the setting of Grade II listed historic farmhouses in the area. However, that harm would be mitigated by the topography of the land and the relatively low number of homes nearby. The plan was recommended for approval as the wind farm would help address the climate emergency.
Ken Aylmer, who lives in Bristol but runs a wedding venue business in the area, spoke on behalf of residents and local business owners who are opposed to the turbines. He said that 17 of the 22 turbines would impact local properties. He believed the applicant should come up with a plan which is less spread out and overbearing in height.
Mark Quinn, director of Cold Northcott Windfarm Ltd, told the meeting he was from a local farming family and had diversified into renewable energy, building several turbines in North Cornwall. He purchased the application site from EDF in 2018 with the view of repowering it with bigger, more productive turbines. He said the 22 turbines would produce approximately ten per cent of Cornwall’s energy requirement and would be fed into the local grid using an existing connection via a private substation, which was a rarity in Cornwall.
Mr Quinn said there would be many community benefits with eight landowners involved, ensuring revenue will help sustain their farming businesses for the next generation. A private wire would be connected to the Davidstow cheese factory, reducing its operational costs and ensuring the future of the business.
Property consultant Walter Wonnacott, speaking in favour of the application, stressed that the wind resource at the site was “substantial”, the area was sparsely populated, with very few listed buildings and it lies outside the National Landscapes designation (formerly an area of outstanding natural beauty). “The proposal will help support the next generation of local farmers in a period of deep financial uncertainty in the industry,” he added.
He said the fact it could provide enough energy to power ten per cent of Cornwall’s homes was a significant public benefit, recognised by both Cornish and national policy. Mr Wonnacott said a solar farm would need over 100 acres of land to produce the same output, while the 22 turbines would be on a site of just 0.78 acres.
“This is the ideal development to make a significant leap forward to meet Cornwall Council’s objective of 100 per cent renewable efficacy by 2030,” he added.
A statement was read out by Lib Dem councillor for Camelford & Boscastle Mark Burnett, whose division would include most of the turbines. He said the vast majority of residents who had contacted him from St Clether, Davidstow and Tresmeer were in opposition due to its size and scale, the expansion of its footprint, along with the “substantial increase” in the height of the turbines to 115 metres to tip, which he said was “previously unprecedented in Cornwall”.
He added that the local community recognised the needs for green energy and were supportive of a previous, smaller wind farm proposal. “This is not a case of nimbyism – the community accepts the need for wind turbines and the suitability of this site,” said Cllr Burnett. “What has led to the objections are the massive increase in the height of the turbines and how this will impact the landscape, residents and the dark skies designation in the area.”
The council’s Independent deputy leader Adam Paynter would see five of the turbines in his Launceston North and North Petherwin ward. He said views locally were polarised, but he was in favour of the application due to the energy benefits.
Cllr Nicky Chopak, the adjoining Lib Dem division member for Poundstock, added: “I’d be interested to know why they’re not really willing to discuss a reduction in the height of these turbines. It’s disappointing yet again that North Cornwall takes the hit for renewable projects, but I do get this will be adding a huge assistance to getting us to Net Zero.”
The meeting heard that 40.5 per cent of energy in Cornwall is met by renewables, meaning the proposed repowered wind farm would take it to over 50 per cent.
The vast majority of committee members – many of whom had visited the site in the days leading up to the meeting – agreed with Cllr Martyn Alvey (Cons, Feock & Kea) that the proposal was a “very, very difficult one for us because this is a very finely balanced application”. He sided with the benefits the wind farm would have on Cornwall achieving its renewable energy target and was swayed by the connection to the Davidstow cheese factory, one of Cornwall’s highest consumers of energy as a single business.
Cllr James Ball (Independent, Camborne Roskear & Tuckingmill) said the benefits for the climate were huge, but did feel for locals as he believed the turbines would have an impact across the landscape.
Cllr Roger Tarrant (Reform UK, Redruth North) referred to environmental documents which stated the number and size of the turbines were contrary to Cornwall Council’s own guidance. “They think these are too big and too spread out, and that Cornwall has enough wind turbines blotting the landscape.
“I’m a proud Cornishman from a long line of Cornish farmers. I drove recently through Devon and Dorset and didn’t see one turbine or solar farm – beautiful countryside which we used to have here in Cornwall. I’d like to retain that as much as possible.”
The application was approved by eight votes to two votes against from Cllr Tarrant and fellow Reform councillor Sally Harrison (Redruth South).
Lib Dem councillor Chris Batters was elected chairman of the strategic planning committee by eight votes at the beginning of the meeting. A proposal for Cllr Tarrant to be elected chair received three votes. Cllr Batters’ vice-chair is Cllr Ball, who gained eight votes, while Reform’s Peter Channon received three votes.