Turbines to treble in height as plans approved

Plans to nearly treble the height of turbines at a wind farm in north Cornwall have been approved.

Cornwall Council approved plans to put up 22 turbines measuring 115m (377ft) in place of 23 existing 41.5m (136ft) ones at Cold Northcott Farm in St Clether near Launceston.

Opponents said they would be too big but developers insisted the new turbines would generate more power.

Adam Paynter, deputy leader of Cornwall Council, said it would be a "change to the landscape" but would benefit the county overall.

Speaking after the meeting, he said: "I can understand people who were against this application and people that live near it are going to be much more affected than those who don't so it was a difficult application to consider.

"I do think overall it is a benefit to Cornwall as far as energy production - 10% of Cornwall's energy can be produced by this one wind farm.

"It is repowering a site that is used to having wind turbines on it for decades so it is not a new thing in that environment."

Ken Aylmer owns a nearby holiday cottage site which is also used as a wedding venue.

He predicted the turbines would overwhelm the area and have a negative impact on the tourism in industry.

"The turbines would be an imposition on what is a beautifully secluded, quiet valley," he said.

"It will change the character of it forever.

"One of the attractions for our customers is to come here and escape that kind of industrialisation and find a nice, quiet spot.

"We worry we are going to lose bookings as a result."

Paynter said conditions to protect assist affected local businesses were being looked at.

Developers Cold Northcott Windfarm Ltd said taller turbines were more effective at producing energy and could generate 66,000 megawatt hours a year - enough to power 22,000 homes.

Parish councils and organisations in the area also raised concerns about the development.

St Clether Parish said it objected over the height and noise of the turbines and argued hazard lights on top of the structures would compromise the area's dark skies status.

Laneast Parish Council warned the scale and height of the turbines "must mean they will be more of an intrusion into the lives of more people".

The applicants said: "The proposed development is conservatively modelled to produce sufficient renewable electricity to power approximately 10% of homes in Cornwall.

"The development will be subsidy-free and provide a reliable income stream for the benefit of the wide range of local farmers involved in the project and enhancing Cornwall's energy supply security."

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