Massive wind turbine plan for small village

Blades so big they will be visible from Coventry

A HUGE 426ft wind turbine, which could be seen as far away as Tamworth and Coventry may be installed on a farm in one of the borough’s smallest settlements.

The three-bladed eco-energy tower, 130m to each tip, is proposed for land at Cottage Farm off Brascote Lane in Cadeby, near to the quarry and concrete depot.

It would stand for 25 years amidst fields, which according to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council’s renewable energy capacity study of December 2014, fall within an area designated for small, medium and large wind turbines.

The 2.5MW turbine could be capable of generating more than six million kWh a year - enough to power around 1,500 homes.

Cornwall-based company Clean Earth are behind the project and have submitted a screening opinion request to the borough council.

They want to know if they will have to conduct an environmental impact assessment on the proposals prior to putting in a planning application.

Clean Earth said: “The development will have no hazardous effects. The turbine development will have a positive environment impact providing renewable electricity, making a small but signifi- cant contribution to national renewable energy targets and reducing carbon emissions.”

According to the company the “closest visually sensitive designation” is Market Bosworth Country Park just over a mile away.

While the turbine won’t be visible from the main attraction and most of the walking trail it will be visible at the start and end of the walking trail.

However, given that tall pylons run close to the site, Clean Earth say any impact will be reduced.

They also say the presence of operational wind turbines within a two mile radius demonstrate the features can be accommodated into the area.

Detailing the extent of the visual impact of the turbine Clean Earth have produced a ‘ zone of theoretical visibility’ map which shows in the worst case scenario, based on terrain only and not accounting for visual barriers such as woodland and settlements, the turbine would be seen, in patches, up to 15.5 miles away.

Following the screening opinion request, assuming an EIA is not required, a full planning application will be sent into Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.

Permission was granted in April 2014 for similarly sized turbine on land off Bagworth Road in Newbold Verdon however in January 2015 proposals for a 100m tall turbine at Little Mark-