Hook Moor Wind Farm

Our application for a 60m tall temporary wind mast which was refused by the City Council has now been permitted on appeal. The wind mast will be erected later this year.

Our proposals can be summarised as:

• Construction of 5 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 2 to 3MW.
  
• The turbines are likely to have a hub height of around 80 metres and a maximum tip height of 125m.
  
• The turbines could produce up to 15 MW of renewable energy, enough for up to 8,340 households (based on a 15 MW capacity).
  
• The site lies within one of the few areas in Leeds identified by our site finding process as being suitable for wind farm development.

Benefits of the Hook Moor Wind Farm proposals:

• A reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by harnessing wind as an alternative to the burning of fossil fuels.
  
• This development could deliver Leeds City Council’s target for the provision of renewable energy generation by 2010. Leeds Council has a target of 11MW from onshore wind by 2010 and an aspirational target of 75MW by 2020. There are currently no operational wind farms in Leeds.
  
• It would support farm diversification and more ecologically and environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
  
• If the Hook Moor development goes ahead, Banks would extend its wider Warmer Yorkshire scheme to encompass local communities. The Warmer Yorkshire scheme is working with national organisations such as National Energy Action, Community Energy Solutions, Warm Zones and the Energy Saving Trust, to provide ways to improve the energy efficiency of local communities around our wind farm proposals. The key aims are to tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions from homes, businesses and community facilities, issues which are becoming critical with ever-increasing household bills.
  
• If the Hook Moor wind farm is successful, a fund will be set up to provide local resources to assist with the delivery of sustainability schemes over the 25-year lifespan of the wind farm.

Click hereto view a non technical summary of the planning application for this site.

If you want to know more about wind farm development the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace have set up an informative and comprehensive web site at http://www.yes2wind.com/.

For further information please contact Emily Hooson, Community Engagement Coordinator on 01740 658500.