Nun Wood Wind Farm Proposal

RWE npower renewables has submitted a revised planning application for its proposed Nun Wood Wind Farm. Planning applications have been made to the three local planning authorities over which the site extends. These are Bedford Borough Council, Borough Council of Wellingborough, Milton Keynes Council.

RWE npower renewables submitted a previous planning application for Nun Wood Wind Farm in August 2006. Statutory consultees and local residents provided a number of comments on the application, particularly in relation to the layout of the turbines. In order to sensitively respond to these comments in the design of the wind farm site, npower renewables decided to withdraw the application in 2008.

The layout of the proposed scheme, located between the villages of Bozeat, Harrold and Lavendon, has therefore been carefully revised. The turbine dimensions, with a height to blade tip of up to 125 metres, remain unchanged; however, the number of turbines has been reduced from 16 to 12.

Improvements in technology since the original application was submitted in 2006 mean that the revised wind farm could generate a similar amount of electricity despite there being fewer turbines. However, this is dependent on the model of turbine selected.

If constructed, the revised scheme would meet the average annual electricity needs of between 13,700 and 15,600 homes¹ and make a valuable contribution towards the Government's commitment to ensure 20% of electricity from renewable sources by the year 2020.

Cath Stevenson, Development Manager for npower renewables, said "We take consultation responses seriously to ensure that our wind farms are sensitively designed taking into account local factors. Nun Wood is an excellent site for a wind farm and has the potential to make an important contribution towards regional and national renewable energy targets. This revised proposal would provide enough clean renewable electricity for thousands of homes each year, helping the UK in our challenge to take action on climate change."

"Changes in the revised scheme include moving one turbine closer, by approximately 200 metres, to the village of Harrold. However there is a distance of nearly two kilometres from this turbine and the edge of the village. Also, in response to issues raised during the public consultation, the turbine closest to Bozeat was moved further from the village and this commitment has been carried forward to the current proposal."

The planning application and accompanying Environmental Statement (ES), can be viewed at Bedford District Council, Milton Keynes Council and the Borough Council of Wellingborough planning offices, as well as Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire County Council offices.

To download the Environmental Statement, or non-technical summary, click on the link 'Environmental Statement' on the menu to the left of this page.

Paper and CD copies of the Environmental Statement (ES) can also be purchased from npower renewables. The CD costs £5 and printed hard copies cost £80. If you would like a hard copy or CD of the ES please contact us at the address below.

In order to make your thoughts on the proposed wind farm known, you should write to the contacts below. It would be helpful if you quote both the planning application reference number and your address when writing to the planning department.

  • Mr Wayne Campbell
    Planning Department
    Bedford Borough Council
    Town Hall
    St Paul's Square
    Bedford
    MK40 1SJ
    Reference number: 09/00137/MAF
  • Mr Alan Mills
    Planning Department
    Milton Keynes Council
    Civic Offices
    1 Saxon Gate East
    Central Milton Keynes
    MK9 3HQ
    Reference number: 08/02118/FULEIS
  • Mr Mike Kilpin
    Planning Department
    Borough Council of Wellingborough
    Croyland Abbey
    Tithe Barn Road
    Wellingborough
    NN8 1BJ
    Reference number: WP/2008/0603

You can also send your questions and comments about Nun Wood Wind Farm to npower renewables, using the contact details below.

Paper and CD copies of the Environmental Statement (ES) can also be purchased from npower renewables. The CD costs £5 and printed hard copies cost £80. If you would like a hard copy or CD of the ES please contact:

RWE npower renewables
2nd Floor
2 Kinsbourne Court
96-100 Luton Road
HARPENDEN
Hertfordshire AL5 3BL
T+44 (0)1582 641910
F+44 (0)1582 641911
E-Mail to RWE npower renewables

Notes
1. Energy predicted to be generated by the proposal is derived using wind speeds monitored in the local area and correlating to a Met. Office station providing longer term data. This enables a calculation to be made to estimate the average annual energy production for the site based on 12 turbines each of rated capacity of between 1.8 and 3MW. The energy capture predicted and hence derived homes equivalent or emissions savings figures may change as further data are gathered.

Equivalent homes supplied is based on an annual electricity consumption per home of 4700 kWh, which is derived from a total UK domestic electricity consumption of 117.589 terawatt-hours (TWh) (The Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2005) and 25.2 million UK households (Mid-year Household Estimates published in 2004 by the Office for National Statistics).