News
4 February 2009
PLANNING APPLICATION REGISTERED FOR CHEVERTON DOWN WIND FARM
The planning application submitted last month by Cornwall Light & Power Ltd and Vestas for three wind turbines on land at Cheverton Down, near Shorwell, has been registered by the Isle of Wight Council.
Cheverton Down is the site of an existing planning consent for three turbines but the new planning application would allow for modern turbines to be installed and in doing so would increase their generating capacity by a factor of ten.
If permission is granted, the turbines would have a combined total capacity of 9MW and produce enough green electricity to power over 4,700 local homes . This would result in CO2 savings of between 14,000 – 15,500 tonnes per annum, as well as making a significant contribution towards the Eco Island target to have over 100MW of generating capacity by 2020.
Development Manager at Cornwall Light & Power, Steve Allen, said:
“We have carried out a full technical and environmental assessment which has clearly demonstrated that the site at Cheverton Down meets all planning requirements for wind energy development at a local, regional and national level. Cheverton Down has one of the best wind resources on the Island and, coupled with the existing planning consent, makes it the most appropriate location for wind energy anywhere on the Isle of Wight.
“The existing consent has already established the principle of wind energy at Cheverton Down – now we have an opportunity to maximise the output and produce even more clean, emissions-free electricity for the Island. By increasing the height of the turbines, we could significantly increase their electricity output – and support local manufacturing.
“The Island now has a fantastic opportunity to take a lead in generating renewable energy – and demonstrate that it realises the important role that onshore wind power must play in meeting the Island’s immediate energy needs. We are urging all those people who are supportive of wind power on the Island to visit our website at www.clpwindprojects.co.uk and pledge their support.”
Rob Sauven, Managing Director at Vestas Technology UK Ltd, said:
“Besides contributing to the Isle of Wight’s aims of an Eco Island, we also see a positive effect on the local economy; creating additional engineering and research opportunities, attracting further investment and cementing the Island’s position as the centre of wind knowledge in the UK.”
“Here on the Island, Vestas already employs over 500 people across its engineering and manufacturing arm and this workforce represents the largest group of people in the UK currently engaged in renewable energy”.
The submission followed a period of public consultation which included four stand-alone exhibitions in September as well as representation by Cornwall Light & Power and Vestas at the Big Green Picnic in May and Future Energy events in October. At each of these events, local people were able to find out more about the proposed scheme, comment on the plans and speak to members of the development team.
Cornwall Light & Power has also pledged to commit £1000 per annum to a community fund for the Isle of Wight, which would be administered by an independent body and spent on projects that directly benefit the local environment – such as recycling schemes or nature conservation.
The application will be available to view at the Isle of Wight Council’s planning department on Fairlee Road in Newport and a non-technical summary can also be downloaded here