Broadview

< Back to all news articles 10 Jan 2012 - Pilrow Broadview Energy reduces size of Pilrow wind farm

Broadview Energy Limited is pleased to announce the final design for its proposed Pilrow wind farm near Rooksbridge, which includes a reduction in size from the original proposal. 

Initial assessments had indicated that the site may be suitable for a wind farm of six turbines with a height to the tip of the blade of 140m. Following an extensive and detailed programme of site investigation and community consultation, Broadview Energy has reduced the number of turbines to four and the height to 130m.

Since June 2011, Broadview has consulted extensively with a number of local stakeholders and consultees including local residents, parish councils, Sedgemoor District Council, Natural England, English Heritage and the Environment Agency. The feedback received during the consultation process has, in combination with the information gathered through numerous detailed technical and environmental surveys, helped to shape the final proposal.

Tom Cosgrove, Project Manager, said: “We wanted to get as much input from the local community as possible through our various consultation events.  We’ve listened to the feedback and, wherever possible, factored this into our final proposal.”

“It is important to recognise that larger wind turbines produce more sustainable electricity. However, it is equally important to balance maximising the renewable energy benefits of the project against minimising potential impacts on the local environment.   By reducing the size of the scheme, we believe that we have found the right balance for the Pilrow site.”

“Finding sites that are suitable for wind farms is a complex process because there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration. Following on from our initial detailed feasibility work, our studies have continued to demonstrate that the Pilrow site is an excellent location for a wind farm of this size.”

Broadview will be holding a series of exhibitions in February to enable residents to view the plans in more detail. A visit to an existing wind farm is also being planned for February which will give the community an opportunity to experience turbines in operation.

Details of these events will be available nearer the time via the project website www.pilrowwindfarm.com, the Support Pilrow Wind Farm Facebook page, and through invitations to local residents.

Detailed studies into the potential environmental impacts of the proposed wind farm are ongoing and the findings will be included in Broadview’s planning application to Sedgemoor District Council, which the company hopes to submit in the coming weeks.

Notes to editors:

1. Broadview Energy Limited www.broadviewenergy.com develops wind energy projects in the United Kingdom that will generate clean, sustainable energy. Broadview takes projects from site identification, through the planning process, to construction and ultimately operation. The company has two operational wind farms: Hill of Fiddes in Aberdeenshire and Low Spinney in Leicestershire. Broadview has a number of other projects at various stages of the development process throughout the United Kingdom.

2. More information on the Pilrow wind farm can be obtained via the dedicated project web pages: www.pilrowwindfarm.com.
 
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