July 11, 2013
England

Assessment request for quarry wind turbine duo

Leek Post & Times | 11 July 2013 | www.leek-news.co.uk

A request has been put forward to determine whether an Environmental Impact Assessment is required before a planning application is submitted to erect two 100 metre (328) feet turbines near to Cauldon Lowe.

Renewables First Ltd have submitted a screening opinion for Wredon Quarry at Rue Hill to determine if an assessment would be required for the proposal before submitting a full planning application.

The two turbines, each with a maximum blade tip height of 100 metres, would have a 88KW capacity and would be erected on agricultural land.

A planning statement to East Staffordshire Borough Council said: “The proposed wind turbine development location is on land formerly used as a quarry and now as a tractor testing site “The proposal is to install two three bladed wind turbines of 100 metres.

“Additional elements include a permanent switch gear housing unit, access track, underground cabling, two crane hard standing and temporary construction compound.

“The development site lies to the top of Rue Hill which is not located on any designated site of Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or Peak Park.”

The statement said that delivery of the turbine components would be by articulated HGV and brought onto the site via the access track.

The construction and installation period would last for about 18 weeks. The transformer and electrical switch gear would be contained in waterproof housing on the site to allow connection to the local electrical grid.

The turbines are designed to have an operational life of up to 25 years after which they would be decommissioned and the site reinstated to a condition agree with the Local planning Authority.

The planning statement adds: “Minor road modifications may be necessary including removal of street furniture to facilitate access to the site.

“The nearest footpath is 140 metres away from the site, 1000 metres from the nearest bridleway and 700 metre from the nearest road.

“Consultation with the MOD and any nearby aviation concerns will be conducted, but from initial assessments there does not appear to be any operations the turbine could interfere with.

“From a technical assessment a noise monitoring assessment will not be required as residential properties are over 500 metres from the turbine location and are unlikely to be affected by noise.

“Subject to the request a full planning application will be made to the Local planning Authority being either Staffordshire Moorlands District Council or East Staffordshire Borough Council.

“Bearing in mind the majority of the title and the access lies within Staffordshire Moorlands, this is the most likely to the determined authority.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/07/11/assessment-request-for-quarry-wind-turbine-duo/