Performers can now make use of a new stage in Darlington after an historic bandstand in one of the town’s parks was reopened for community use following a major restoration project.

The 113-year-old North Park bandstand was restored with the help of a £10,000 grant from local developer The Banks Group, via its Banks Community Fund, and was officially reopened last year. (more…)

Plans to develop a new wind farm on land to the west of Bradford have reached their latest milestone with the submission of a scoping report to Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

Banks Renewables, part of the Banks Group, is currently developing plans for the proposed Thornton Moor scheme, which would be situated on moorland to the south of the town of Denholme.

The scoping report contains a wide range of research and information about the Thornton Moor project, from the background to and details of the proposed scheme through to specific information on particular aspects of its development, such as ecological surveys, landscape assessments, traffic and access reports, habitat assessments and noise assessments, that will be carried out as part of a detailed environmental assessment. (more…)

Work to erect a test wind mast on the site of a proposed new wind farm in Stirlingshire has been completed.

Hamilton-based Banks Renewables is developing plans for the Ard Ghaoth Wind Farm development, which would be situated on agricultural land to the north east of Drymen, and the 60m mast is being put in place to gather wind data which will be used to inform the development of the site.

Preparatory work has been taking place on site since a planning application for the test mast was approved in November, with only one objection lodged against the plans, and the actual installation of the mast was finalised just before Christmas. (more…)

A planning application for a test wind mast on the site of a proposed new wind farm to the west of Bradford has been submitted to Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

Banks Renewables, part of the Banks Group, is currently developing plans for the proposed Thornton Moor scheme, which would be situated on moorland to the south of the town of Denholme.

The company has applied for permission for a 60m test mast to be erected on site to collect wind data, and is hoping to get a decision on the application by April 2012.

Banks is looking to invest around £12.5 million in the creation of the Thornton Moor wind farm, which is expected to encompass up to four turbines. (more…)

A planning application for a proposed new wind farm in the eastern Scottish Borders has been submitted to the Scottish Borders Council.

Banks Renewables has put forward plans for the proposed Quixwood Moor wind farm, which would be situated on agricultural land between the villages of Grantshouse and Abbey St Bathans in Berwickshire.

The scheme would encompass 14 turbines with a maximum tip height of 126.25m, and could have an installed capacity of up to 32MW, which could meet the annual electricity consumption requirements of up to 21,800 homes. (more…)

The development of plans for a proposed new wind farm to the south west of York is to be held back in advance of clearer guidance on renewable energy development in the area becoming available.

Banks Renewables put forward plans for the proposed Hagg Wood wind farm, which would be situated on agricultural land adjacent to the A64 near to its junction with the A1237, to the west of Copmanthorpe, at the start of the year, and has been conducting a public engagement programme across local communities since then. (more…)

Updated plans for a proposed new wind farm in North Yorkshire are now being finalised in response to feedback from local communities.

Banks Renewables, part of The Banks Group, has been carrying out a public engagement programme over the last 11 months in the communities surrounding the site of the proposed South Dale wind farm, which would be situated on agricultural land to the west of Hunmanby. (more…)

Pupils from a South Yorkshire primary school have been taking a closer look at how energy is going to be generated by a new wind farm in their area.

Around 50 children from Millhouse Primary School in Barnsley took a tour of the site of the Hazlehead wind farm, which is located on formerly derelict brownfield land to the west of Barnsley between the villages of Crow Edge and Carlecotes. (more…)

Proposals for a new renewable energy generation project on Teesside have been approved by Stockton Borough Council’s planning committee for a second time.

Banks Renewables, part of the County Durham-based Banks Group, put forward the proposal for the Lambs Hill scheme, which will be located to the north west of Stockton and around three miles east of the A1(M). (more…)

Plans for the first wind farm in the Leeds metropolitan area have been approved after a second appeal against their rejection.

Banks Renewables, part of The Banks Group, put forward the proposals for the Hook Moor development, which will be located on agricultural land near the junction of the M1 and A1. (more…)