February 16, 2012
England

£22m wind turbines plan at four Shropshire farms

Shropshire Star, www.shropshirestar.com 16 February 2012

A £22 million windfarm with eight separate turbines could be built in the heart of Shropshire.

Talks are under way to install the windfarm which would span four farms between Minsterley and Worthen near Shrewsbury. Developers say the scheme would create enough energy to power 7,500 homes in the area a year and to save more than 5,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

EDF Energy Renewables, one of the UK’s largest energy companies, has begun early talks with Shropshire Council over its plans.

Formal proposals for the Aston Brook wind farm, which takes its name from a watercourse running through the site, are expected to be lodged by the end of the year.

The plans include eight large 127 metre (416ft) high wind turbines, with two on each of the four farms. Developers said they were excited about the plans, adding that the windfarm would be connected to the local grid network at a point close to the site.

Up to £3m of the £22m which would be spent on the project if plans are approved, would go directly on local services and contractors during the construction phase, a spokesman for the scheme said.

The four landowners on board with the project will receive a commercial rent from EDF for allowing them to install a turbine on their grassland.

Darren Cuming, EDF development manager for the project, said: “EDF already has over 20 operational windfarms across the UK and this is one of the areas we have found suitable for development.

“We have been assessing the feasibility of the site for the past six months and we think it provides an excellent and exciting opportunity to harness clean renewable energy to benefit the local economy.”

Residents will have chance to comment on the plan when public exhibitions are held later in the year. Final details on the future application are currently being discussed.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/02/16/22m-wind-turbines-plan-at-four-shropshire-farms/