New wind farms could be limited to narrow strip of land near motorway

DEVELOPERS LOOKING to build wind farms in part of Yorkshire, which already has one of the highest densities of turbines in the country, could find it more difficult in future.

A consultation document suggests in future new wind farms in East Yorkshire could be confined to a narrow strip of the M62/A63 corridor.

A number of options are outlined in the first stage of a review of the East Riding Local Plan, a planning blueprint which was adopted by East Riding Council in 2016. It says much of the Wolds and the River Derwent corridor areas are defined as areas of “significant constraint” and not suitable for future wind development. Holderness, where there are already many wind farms, is considered an area of “potential constraint”.

But the report adds: “A very limited part of the East Riding which extends along the M62/ A63 corridor is identified as an area of search and would in principle be suitable for certain forms of wind energy development.”

Other issues in the consultation includes the pressing question of how to meet the need for nearly 600 affordable homes a year over a five-year period.

It also asks whether there is support for introducing specific standards for new housing to meet the needs of an ageing population.

The council is also considering new sites for development, including those which were rejected last time. Responses to the consultation need to be submitted by December 21.