The proposal
Sites
East Heslerton
RWE npower renewables has submitted Supplementary Environmental Information (SEI) to Ryedale District Council to supplement its planning application for a wind farm near East Heslerton, approximately 12km east of Malton in the District of Ryedale, North Yorkshire.
The application for the site comprises 10 wind turbines with a maximum height to blade tip of 126m. The wind farm could produce enough renewable electricity to meet the average annual electricity needs of 9,700 – 14,500 homes1.
The original application was submitted to the Council in March 2011 after a wide range of assessments were undertaken to identify the site's suitability for a wind farm, as well as pre-application consultation with local people.
Over 200 local residents attended a public exhibition about the scheme in August 2010, with 65 per cent of those who completed a comment form at the event in support of the wind farm. A newsletter detailing the proposal was also sent to over 3,300 homes within 10km of the site.
A range of environmental studies were undertaken as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment to ensure the design of the wind farm was appropriate for the site. The results of these studies were written up into an Environmental Statement which was submitted to Ryedale District Council alongside the planning application.
During the Council’s formal consultation on the application, a high number of positive responses were received, many of which highlighted the important role that wind power can play in helping to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions and improve the security of our energy supply.
During the course of this consultation, a small number of organisations requested more information on a variety of environmental factors. Building on the comprehensive assessments already carried out, we undertook additional studies to provide more detail on the issues raised, in order to assist parties responding to the Council.
The outcome of these studies is detailed in the Supplementary Environmental Information (SEI) that has now been submitted to Ryedale District Council. This document has been registered as an addendum to the existing planning application, which will be subject to a further round of formal consultation enabling statutory bodies, organisations and members of the public to provide the Council will additional feedback.
To ensure local residents continue to be informed about the application, a newsletter has been distributed to homes and properties near to the proposed site. As well as providing an overview of the additional information provided in the SEI, this newsletter also provides interested parties with an update on the next steps in the planning process and how they might contribute.
Martin Wood, RWE npower renewables developer said: “Reducing UK carbon emissions is a huge challenge and onshore wind farms, such as the one proposed at East Heslerton, are a vital part of the ongoing effort to tackle climate change.”
“Since submitting the application we have spoken to a number of bodies, including local authorities and organisations such as Natural England and the North York Moors National Park Authority, to better understand the comments they made in their submissions to Ryedale District Council.”
“It has also served to inform the work we have subsequently undertaken to address the issues raised. For instance, we have carried out further archaeological work to assist with informing the planing decision. We have also identified an alternative route to the south of the site for HGV access which avoids vehicles using Whitegates Lane (via the A64). Through ongoing consultation, the Ministry of Defence have agreed to remove two of their objections subject to a planning condition. We have also submitted a mitigation proposal in relation to their final objection which is currently being assessed by the Ministry of Defence. We are confident thatthis will enable the proposed wind farm to go ahead without affecting the Ministry of Defence’s interests.”.
Building on the detailed assessments already carried out, we anticipate that the outcome of the additional studies detailed in the SEI will now better assist parties responding to the Council in forming their view of the application.”
1 Equivalent homes supplied is based on average electricity consumption per home of 4,700 kilowatt hours (kWh). This figure is supported by recent domestic electricity consumption data available from The Digest of UK Energy Statistics and household estimates and projections from the UK Statistics Authority.
The energy predicted to be generated by the proposal has been calculated using an assumed capacity factor of 26% (DTI Energy Trends UK regional capacity factors 1998-2004) and is based on installed capacity of between 20 and 30MW. The energy capture predicted and hence derived homes equivalent or emissions savings figures may change as site specific information is gathered. Note that the current proposed site design could utilise turbines up to 3MW each.
