Site Development
The New Albion Wind Farm has passed through many stages since the beginning of 2008 and all the necessary environmental studies have been completed and satisfied the requirements of Kettering Borough Council.
Listed here are the stages New Albion Wind Farm has been through and what the next steps are:
Feasibility
During the very earliest stage of development, Towns Close Farm was assessed as to whether this site would be suitable to develop a wind farm. Factors such as wind speed, connection to the grid and distance to dwellings and infrastructure were taken into account.
Scoping
The Scoping phase looks into more depth about the suitability of the site. Initial desk research is carried out and a Scoping Report is produced which provided information to Kettering Borough Council to enable a Scoping Opinion to be made.
The Scoping Report examines the main or significant effects to which the wind farm is likely to give arise. These effects are identified and set the scene when producing the Environmental Impact Assessment.
Environmental Impact Assessment
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) addresses all the significant effects which arise from the wind farm.
Many environmental factors are taken into account when assessing the impact the wind farm could have on the existing and immediate environment.
At this stage Infinergy consulted with statutory and non-statutory consultees, including:
- English Heritage
- Natural England
- The Highways Agency
- MoD
- Civil Aviation Authority
- The Environment Agency
- RSPB
- Local Parish, Town, District and Borough Councils
- Local residents
Surveys are undertaken to assess the impacts and the results of all these surveys and the complete finding from the EIA are used to produce the Environmental Statement which is the document which accompanied the planning application to KBC. The full Environmental Statement and all of its supporting documents can be viewed by clicking on ‘News’ and then ‘Downloads’ on the left hand-side of the screen.
Planning Application submission
The planning application to construct 7 wind turbines with a blade tip of 100 metres was submitted to Kettering Borough Council (KBC) in October 2009. KBC had 16 weeks in which they must determine the planning application.
At this point statutory and non-statutory consultees were asked to comment on the application, along with members of the public who are encouraged to write to KBC with their support or objection to the scheme.
The results of the consultation were:
- Stoke Albany Parish Council No objection
- NATS Safeguarding No objection
- CNUK Central Support Team No objection
- North Northants Badger Group No objection
- Northamptonshire Police No objection
- Civil Aviation Authority No objection
- Network Rail No objection
- RSPB No objection
- Highways Agency No objection
- English Heritage No objection
- The Wildlife Trust No objection
- East Midlands Development Agency Recommends approval
- Anglian Water No objection
- Northants Archaeological Adviser Agree with findings in ES
- Ministry of Defence No objection
- Wellingborough Borough Council No objection
- KBC Environmental Services Manager No objection
- East Northants District Council No objection
- Northants Rights of Way Officer No objection
- Northants Bat Group Objection
- Harborough District Council Objection
- Desborough Town Council Objection
- Rushton Parish Council Objection
- Wilbarston Parish Council Objection
- CPRE Objection
- Rushton and Pipewell Action Group Objection
KBC Planning Officer produced an Officer’s Recommendation for Approval and subsequently the planning application was approved on Tuesday 19th January 2010.
The next steps
Now that the planning application has been approved Infinergy will finalise the financial agreements then commence with the procurement process.
- Procurement of wind farms is a lengthy process and can take as much as 6 months to manufacture the wind turbine parts from date of order.
- There will be an agreement with The National Grid as to when they can accept connection.
- All the conditions set by KBC upon planning approval must be met and when these conditions are adhered to then the construction of New Albion Wind Farm can commence.
- The construction of the wind farm could take a further 6 months.
It is hoped that New Albion Wind Farm will be operational by the end of 2011.