Broadview

< Back to all news articles 08 Feb 2012 - Starbold Broadview seeks planning approval for the proposed Starbold wind farm

Plans for the Starbold wind farm have today been submitted to Stratford-on-Avon District Council by Broadview Energy Limited. The proposed Starbold wind farm is to be located on agricultural land adjacent to the M40, between the villages of Bishop’s Itchington and Knightcote, in Warwickshire.

The proposal is for a wind farm consisting of five wind turbines and associated infrastructure, which could generate enough clean electricity to meet the average annual requirements of approximately 4,788 households.

During the development process, Broadview has executed a comprehensive engagement strategy regarding its proposals with key consultees such as English Heritage, local councils, residents, community representatives and a range of other organisations.

In December of last year, following two previous community consultation events, a public exhibition was conducted at Knightcote Village Hall which was attended by approximately 110 people.  A large number of visitors to the exhibition were local residents who were able to learn more about the proposal and question members of the Broadview team. The three consultation events allowed Broadview to gather feedback on its proposals and factor this into the final design of the scheme.

In addition to the consultation activities, a number of environmental and technical assessments have been carried out to examine possible effects of the scheme, covering a variety of issues that include: noise, landscape, cultural heritage, transport and nature conservation impacts.  The findings of these various assessments are presented within an Environmental Statement which accompanies the planning application. 

Stratford-on-Avon District Council will now undertake a wide ranging consultation exercise with a number of organisations, as well as local residents, before making a decision on the proposal.

James Turner-Moore, Project Manager for the proposed Starbold wind farm said: “We have looked very carefully at the Starbold site and we feel that it is an ideal location for a small number of wind turbines. The application is thorough and informed by a comprehensive range of detailed technical and environmental assessments.  The proposal that we have submitted has been developed with full regard to relevant national and local planning guidance and we have adapted the plans in light of our consultations.  The turbines can generate clean electricity for many years to come and, importantly, if the scheme is approved, the local area can expect to receive financial support for community-based projects.  We have proposed a community fund that would equate to the value of £2,500 per MW of installed capacity per annum over the wind farm’s 25 year lifetime.  We now look to Stratford-on-Avon District Council to grant planning permission for the wind farm.”

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 Starbold wind farm can be obtained via the dedicated project web pages: www.starboldwindfarm.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Lisa Ross at Broadview Energy Limited (lross@broadviewenergy.com / 020 7268 9911).