Plans submitted for an 80-metre tall wind turbine

Plans have been submitted for an 80-metre tall wind turbine near a Shropshire town.

The scheme, say Shropshire and Telford Community Energy, will generate electricity for up to 30 years, after which the turbine would be removed or for it to be extended, subject to new planning consent.

The firm has targeted Conery Farm, to the southwest of Bishop’s Castle. Owned by Beamond Partners Ltd, the historical name for the field is ‘Shootin Alley’, so is also referred to as the Shootin Alley Wind Project or Shootin Alley Wind Turbine.

The proposed turbine has a maximum  height to blade tip of 80m and a rotar diameter of 61m.

Shropshire & Telford Community Energy says, since 2021, it has been working on the project with Lightfoot, an environmental charity based in Bishop’s Castle. There have since been three public meetings, with the plans presented to the town council.

Pre-application advice was also carried out with Shropshire Council in 2023, which the developer says has been invaluable.

“The colour of the proposed turbine would be a semi-matt pale grey,” said Daniel Grierson, from the Energy Workshop, who has submitted a supporting statement on behalf of the developer.

“It would carry no external advertising or lettering except for statutory notices and a turbine number on the tower door, unless otherwise agreed with
by the Local Planning Authority.

“The wind turbine will be delivered in sections and assembled on site using two large mobile cranes.”

Access for deliveries will be via the B4385 immediately west of the site. The main construction period is likely to last around six months, with heavy vehicle access and potentially noisy construction acitivities limited to 7am to 7pm on weekdays and 7am to 5pm at weekends.

“The operation of the turbine will be automated and visits to the site by operations staff will only be required approximately once or twice a month for routine inspections in a light vehicle,” said Mr Grierson.

“Longer visits for servicing, typically every six months, will be required to check and inspect blades, fastenings and oil quality. An oil change should only be necessary if there was an indication of degradation in the oil quality following each six-monthly inspection.

“The blade and main brake activation systems will be under hydraulic control, and it is expected that the hydraulic oil will require replacement every five years. Unscheduled maintenance may also be required. Performance will be monitored remotely.

“There is a strong policy presumption in favour of sustainable and low carbon development in both the National Planning Policity Framework (NPPF) and the Local Development Plan, with the wider environmental benefits associated with facilitating the increased production of energy from low carbon renewable sources being recognised and supported.

“In this instance, the project would deliver the further deployment of additional renewable generation. The proposal would have no significant or unacceptable effects on amenity, landscape, ecology, heritage or any other sensitive environmental assets.”