Kirkharle Wind Farm - The Proposal

Location Map In 2008, RWE npower renewables submitted a planning application for a medium scale eight turbine wind farm near Kirkharle, approximately 12 miles due west of Morpeth in Northumberland. Each turbine would stand 125 metres high (to the tip of the blade) and have the capacity to produce up to 3 megawatts (MW) of clean electricity. In September 2010, RWE npower renewables appealed against non-determination of the proposal by Northumberland County Council, which means the scheme will be determined by a government-appointed Planning Inspector following a public inquiry.

In order to address both landscape and aviation concerns, 4 turbines were removed from the proposal, and so a 4 turbine scheme will be determined.

The planning application for Kirkharle Wind Farm was accompanied by an Environmental Statement (ES) document and subsequently Supplementary Environmental Information (SEI) was submitted in relation to the reduced 4 turbine scheme. These documents together detail the various environmental studies undertaken for the project, covering all aspects of the proposal, from noise levels to wildlife. A non-technical summary of both the Environmental Statement and the Supplementary Environmental Information, which are shorter documents containing the key findings of the various environmental reports, are available to download. Please click the links on the right.

The public inquiry is due to start on Tuesday 26th July and will examine evidence on landscape, residential amenity, noise, aviation, cultural heritage and planning policy. A decision is expected later in 2011.