Six locations around the borough were primarily recognized for possible developments, but these were reduced to three seen as most suitable for wind power, with the remit that they are around 300 meters away from significant residential housing.
Top priority is being given to farmland around Thorrington Hall in Belstead, south west of Ipswich, where two 125 meter high turbines could be built offering around 6MW capacity.
Another 2MW to 3MW wind turbine of a similar height is on the cards for a site next to the Shell garage in Ravenswood, to the south of Ipswich.
In the meantime, a smaller machine half the height of the large turbines could be installed to the north-west of Ipswich on the Bury Road. Other locations for wind turbines could also be placed forward by developers bidding for the contract, according to a letter inviting tender proposals.
The development of the turbines was approved by Ipswich council’s executive at the end of March 2009, and is now planned to go out to tender by the end of May 2009.
A developer could be appointed in August 2009, to submit intends for the turbines in 2011, for building to potentially take place in 2013/14.
In addition to cutting the council’s own carbon emissions and helping to meet regional targets for the East of England to generate 10% of its own electricity by 2010 and 17% by 2020, council officers said the wind turbines would be a key awareness tool in the fight against climate change.
The potentially iconic turbines could be an important reminder to domestic residents and businesses to do their bit to decrease their own carbon footprints.
Matthew Ling, head of environmental services at the authority, told New Energy Focus this morning: Ipswich borough council wants to put these in place to show that people here take the environment very seriously.
They should have an impact on people’s behavior – some renewables are really hidden away, but these will be very visible, very beautiful wind turbines.
The developer selected for the project will have to prepare a full environmental impact assessment, and consult with local residents through the planning process.
