Councillors pass massive upgrade to wind farm despite opposition

PLANNING application for what would be Cornwall's tallest wind farm, which has received a large amount of opposition among local residents, proved to be a 'very, very difficult' one for councillors last Thursday.

- by LEE TREWHELA

Ultimately, Cornwall Council's new strategic planning committee agreed that the renewable energy benefits of 22 new turbines in the countryside near Launceston would outweigh concerns about height and landscape impact.

Cold Northcott Windfarm Ltd has proposed repowering and extending its site at Laneast, including the removal of 23 existing wind turbines and replacing them with 22 turbines up to 115 metres (377ft) to tip. The existing wind turbines are 41.5m (136ft) to blade tip. The development would be operational for 35 years and provide 10% of Cornwall's energy.

The tallest onshore wind turbine in the UK is 150 metres (492ft). The average height for a turbine in this country is 76 metres (249ft), so the proposed wind farm would be among the tallest in the UK.