Decision on doubling wind turbines to 377ft could be reached tomorrow

A PROPOSAL to replace one of the UK's first wind farms with turbines more than twice as high has caused huge concern in a rural area of North Cornwall.

- by LEE TREWHELA Local Democracy Reporter

A Cornwall Council planning committee will tomorrow consider whether 22 turbines, each 115 metres high, will harm the landscape.

Cold Northcott Windfarm Ltd is seeking permission to 'repower' and extend its site at Laneast, near Launceston, removing 23 turbines which measure 41.5m (136ft) to the upper blade tip and replacing them with 22 turbines measuring 115m (377ft).

For comparison, the spire of Truro Cathedral is 76m high (250ft).

The UK's tallest onshore turbine is 150m high and the national average height is 76m, so the repowering would make the wind farm among the tallest in the country.

The proposal will be considered tomorrow by the first strategic planning committee meeting of the new council administration.

It was brought to committee by the chief planning officer due to the development's scale, the objections received from third parties and some consultees and the benefit of generating renewable energy. The application is recommended for conditional approval.