Draft Plans for the Public Consultation

The 23 existing and approved windfarm turbines are proposed to be removed entirely and replaced with 22 larger scale wind turbines. The original and approved wind turbines are predominantly sited in hedgerows and therefore the repowered and replacement wind turbines are proposed to be sited in locations that meet the latest constraints guidance, including ecology, noise, landscape and visual impact, heritage, NATS and MOD requirements. All these environmental considerations are subject to detailed survey work, designed and carried out under consultation directly with Cornwall Council specialist officers under a pre-application Planning Performance Agreement. The reports and studies will be available for the public to review under the planning application, in the form of an Environmental Statement and Non-Technical Summary.

The site is rare in Cornwall in that it has both a very good wind resource and a substantial grid connection available (via the existing connection and underground cabling to Otterham). Being one of the most sparsely populated areas of Cornwall, there are very few sensitive receptors in the local area in terms of unconnected dwellings and heritage assets and the site is not within a designated landscape. The development would result in a substantial and significant increase in renewable energy generation without a net increase in the number of wind turbines.

If Cornwall Council is to realise its ambition to achieve 100% renewable electricity supply by 2030, this development is likely to be a critical contributor.