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In February 2010, Peel Energy submitted an application to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to construct and operate a 20 turbine wind farm located on the Frodsham Canal Deposit Grounds, Cheshire. The proposed development was subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the findings reported in an Environmental Statement (ES).
Following the decision of the Cheshire West and Chester Council Planning Committee to formally object to the scheme, the proposals will now be considered by a planning inspector at a public inquiry starting on 22 November 2011 before the final decision is made by the Secretary of State.
In preparation for the public inquiry, Peel Energy has been undertaking further environmental and technical studies in consultation with statutory consultees such as Natural England and Cheshire West and Chester Council. As a result of this consultation Peel Energy has now submitted minor amendments to the application, supported by Supplementary Environmental Information (SEI). The SEI considers whether the changes to the proposed development alter the assessment of environmental effects reported in the original ES. The SEI also reports on any additional environmental baseline information and updated assessments.
The key amendments to the application comprise the following:
- The relocation of the proposed substation
- A reduction in the number of turbines proposed from 20 to 19 turbines, with the removal of the turbine from the north east corner of the site.
The substation was originally proposed to be located north of Marsh Lane and has now been relocated south of Grinstone Lane, formerly Kamira Road. The change would enable the substation to utilise an existing road for access, with opportunity to share an access track from the road to the substation site with the consented Ince Resource Recovery Park. Access to construct and maintain the rest of the wind farm remains the same as stated in the 2010 ES. The site of the substation benefits from existing screening and proposed landscape planting. The design of the building remains unchanged with the exception of a reduction in the required compound size.
The turbine at the confluence of the Weaver and Manchester Ship Canal was removed from the scheme following extensive discussions and site visits with Natural England and RSPB, as well as other local ecological interest groups. The discussions were focused on the potential impact on particular specifies of birds due to the turbine’s proximity to protected habitat.
The dimensions and locations of the remaining 19 turbines will not change. As stated in the 2010 ES, the 3MW turbines would have a blade tip height of up to 125m, a hub height of up to 80m, and a blade diameter of up to 90m. A 3MW turbine with a larger rotor diameter was considered in the noise modelling to support discussions with Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Environmental Health officers but consent for these turbines is not being sought.
Other changes to the scheme include a revised Habitat Creation and Management Plan. Through consultation with Natural England and RSPB, land within the site will be maintained as a high tide roosting area to mitigate potential ornithological impacts. This will complement the original proposed habitat creation area.
The Supplementary Environmental Information can be found on the Peel Energy website: www.peelenergy.co.uk or viewed in person at the following locations:
- Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Planning Department, The Forum, Chester, CH1 2HS;
- Cheshire West and Cheshire Council. The Planning Department, Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford, CW7 1AH;
- Elton Library, Elton Community Centre, Elton, Chester, Cheshire, CH2 4PU;
- Helsby Library, Lower Robin Hood Lane, Helsby, Cheshire, WA6 0BW; and
- Frodsham Library, Rock Chapel, High Street, Frodsham, Cheshire, WA6 7AN.
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