North East

Steadings Wind Farm

Our proposals, following amendments through the scoping and public consultation process, can be summarised as:

• 21 turbines
  
• Maximum tip height of 125 metres
  
• Turbine capacity would be between 2.5 and 3 Megawatts
  
• The revised turbine locations are in a landscape character area designated in the Regional Renewable Energy Strategy as having a lower sensitivity to wind energy development than other adjacent landscape areas. Wind turbines have been withdrawn from the more sensitive Great Wanney Crag area and from areas adjacent to the A696.

Benefits of the Steadings Wind Farm proposals:

• Helping to deliver Northumberland’s target to generate 212MW of renewable energy from onshore wind by 2010. At May 2008 only 4.6 MW of onshore wind generation was operational in the County.
  
• A reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by harnessing wind as an alternative to the burning of fossil fuels.
  
• Significant contribution to regional targets for the provision of renewable energy generation.
  
• Support farm diversification and more ecologically and environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
  
• Planting and landscaping works around and on the proposed site, particularly to improve ecological biodiversity and links between wildlife areas.
  
• A Community Development Fund establishing the 'Warmer Tynedale' initiative. This aims to provide energy efficiency and micro-generation advice to all businesses and homes around the wind farm to develop a sustainable community. The Community Development Fund will, over the life of the wind farm, benefit all households making homes more affordably heated and helping to improve business energy efficiency. For more information on the 'Warmer Tynedale' initiative contact Rob Williams at our Tow Law office.

The design of the wind farm can be seen by clicking here