BT Wind for Change at Wingates
BT is committed to finding the most efficient sites for generating wind power.
We are aiming to build four 2-2.5MW turbines, each with maximum tip height of 100m at Wingates Moor and six 2-2.5MW turbines, each with maximum tip height of 100m East Wingates.
Site maps
East Wingates
Wingates Moor Farm
We are speaking with local people and groups and statutory stakeholders ahead of lodging a planning application and will continue to do so throughout the planning process.
BT is an active and committed member of the North East community. We take our environmental responsibilities seriously and welcome continued opportunities to discuss our wind turbine plans with the local community. During the Environmental Impact Assessment many organisations are being consulted, for example.
- Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
- English Heritage • Highways Agency
- Ministry of Defence (MOD)
- Natural England
- Newcastle Airport
- Northumberland County Council
- Northumberland Wildlife Trust
- National Air Traffic Services (NATS)
- Office of Communications (Ofcom)
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
Wind for Change programme at Wingates
|
Screening |
Assessment of the need for an EIA |
|---|---|
|
Scoping |
Establish EIA methodology |
|
Baseline Studies |
Desk and field surveys to identify possible environmental constraints |
|
Pre Application Consultation |
Statutory and non statutory consultee meetings and exhibitions |
|
Design Freeze |
Agreement of final site design to allow specialists to undertake EIA |
|
Mitigation |
Measures to lessen or improve significant environmental effects will be undertaken if identified through the EIA |
|
Planning Application |
Planning application to Northumberland County Council expected to be submitted in October 2009 |
|
Statutory Public Consultation |
Submission of planning application triggers statutory public consultation period of 21 days from receipt of the application |
Exhibitions
BT hosted a two day exhibition at the Wingates Village Institute on the 25th and 26th of September 2009 with 46 people attending over the two days.
A wide range of opinions were expressed and notes that were received will be included in the Statement of Community Involvement which will be submitted as part of the planning application process. Comments raised included concerns about potential noise and visual impact of the proposed turbines as well as traffic movement through Wingates village during the construction phase of the East Wingates site.
Clarification was sought about what planning policy support there was for Wingates to be chosen for the two proposals. BT referred to a wind farm study carried out by consultants appointed by the North East Assembly to carry out a wind farm development and landscape capacity study of the Knowesgate and Harwood Forest area of Northumberland and our exhibition leaflet stated that Wingates was within a zone suitable for medium to small sized wind farms.
To clarify, Policy 41 (Onshore Wind Energy Development) of The North East of England Plan, Regional Spatial Strategy to 2021, July 2008 shows that while, in fact, the Wingates proposals lies outside the broadly defined areas – the policy does allow for wind farm developments outside the areas of least constraint.
A few comments were made about the renewable energy production targets highlighted in our exhibition leaflet. These figures were for illustration purposes and show the maximum installed capacity at the proposed developments as well as the theoretical contribution to Northumberland’s 2010 renewable energy target. These figures were used to help attendees understand the scale of the project. For clarification the industry standard figure of the load factor is around 30% of the theoretical maximum output.
Those attending the exhibition had the opportunity to see how the proposed turbines would look from specific locations using wind farm modelling operated by our Landscape and Visual team. Wireframes, which illustrate the predicted views, were generated to help attendees envisage the likely view from the selected location.
Scoping and pre application consultation including exhibitions are a valuable part of the process providing us with the opportunity to clarify and modify proposals and to address any assumptions or inaccuracies.
Also on display at the exhibition were seven photomontages which are available to view here.
Wingates Moor Farm Wingates
Wingates Moor Farm East of Little Plantation
Wingates Moor Farm Longwitton
East Wingates Embleton Terrace
East Wingates Garrett Lee
East Wingates Wingates Village
Keeping in touch:
We welcome the opportunity to openly discuss our wind proposals with the local community and other stakeholders
- get in touch with us through: Head of Partnership Development, BT Wind for Change, PP HWD 170, PO Box 200, London, N18 1ZF , email: windforchange@BT.com
You can also contact the local authority directly:
- Frances Wilkinson, Principal Planning Officer, Central Development Management Team, Development and Regulatory Services Directorate, Northumberland County Council, County Hall, Morpeth,NE61 2EF
