In a recent report by the County Council, the area in the north east of the district was identified as being the largest area in Cumbria to have a high capacity landscape for wind farm schemes.
A total of up to 40 turbines could be installed across the three sites, which are to be known as Stonechest, Black Knors and Mossgrove. Up to 10 turbines could be located at the Mossgrove and Stonechest sites and up to 20 could be situated at Black Knors. The height of the proposed turbines could be up to 125 meters to tip.
Banks Developments has started to prepare a scoping report and detailed plans for the proposed schemes, and will undertake a full public consultation exercise around the proposals over the coming months.
This will include initial public exhibitions to be held on May 12, 2009 at Hethersgill Village Hall and May 13, 2009 at Nicholforest Village Hall, where local people will be able to find out more details and provide feedback on the initial outline.
Banks has constructed the north east’s largest onshore wind farm at Tow Law in County Durham, and has extensive experience of designing wind farm developments.
Phil Dyke, managing director of Banks Renewables, says: “We’re very much at the start of developing these proposals, but wanted to inform and involve local residents and community leaders at the earliest possible opportunity, as feedback from them always plays an important part in shaping all the proposals that we put forward.
“Onshore wind power generation through schemes such as this will play a crucial part in meeting the UK’s energy requirements for the foreseeable future, and we are confident that these schemes will be of significant benefit to both the communities around them and the wider north west region.
“The area in which we’re proposing to site these schemes has been identified as having the most appropriate landscape for such developments, and we are confident that we will be able to create schemes which are both acceptable to local people and which provide significant amounts of renewable energy for use in thousands of local homes.
“We will develop our proposals in a way which properly addresses any local issues that are raised. We will consult with a range of organizations including The Ministry of Defence, local residents groups, ecological groups and the local wildlife trust. We will work with them to find suitable resolutions to any matters arising.”
