August 17, 2006
U.K.

Windfarm would dwarf all

http://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk

For centuries, Norwich Cathedral has been the undisputed king of the Norfolk horizon – without a tower to touch it as its spire scrapes the sky.

But the 96-metre landmark could soon be usurped as the county’s tallest building, by an army of towering turbines.

The proposed Sheringham Shoal windfarm will include 70 turbines, all measuring 172 metres from the tip of their sails at the highest point to the watermark.

In new detail revealed today, the turbine towers will be 97 metres high, while the “sails” will measure 150 metres from tip to tip.

If they get planning consent, they will be almost four times higher than Norfolk’s tallest parish church at Cromer, which reaches 50 metres.

They will also make the 100-metre Big Ben look like Little Ben, and even overshadow the 135-metre London Eye.

Norfolk’s other offshore windfarm, which reaches a maximum of 92-metres at Scroby Sands, near Yarmouth, is also going to be looked down upon from a great height.

But despite their extraordinary dimensions, Sheringham Shoal’s turbines are only likely to be seen in their full glory by seabirds, seals and a few fishermen.

For the windfarm is proposed to stand on a site some 17-23km off the north Norfolk coast.

And, while visitors can marvel at the height of Norwich Cathedral as they stand directly under it, the windfarm is expected to only just be within view of people at the closest vantage points between Blakeney and Cromer.

Sheringham Shoal project backers Scira have already moved to reassure people about the impact of the turbines on the horizon.

They say the windfarms will only be visible on 60pc of days, when the weather is clear, and even then will look like a “line of matchsticks on the horizon”.

The windfarm was proposed to include as many as 108 turbines, but Scira has now indicated it is likely to want to construct 70.

If completed, the development could supply up to 176,000 homes with electricity.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is currently carrying out consultation about the proposals.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/08/17/windfarm-would-dwarf-all/