Additional work is to be carried out on the planning application for a proposed wind farm development in North Yorkshire to allow for further assessment of radar-related matters.
Over the last eight months, Banks Renewables has been carrying out a number of assessments around for the proposed South Dale wind farm, which would be situated on agricultural land to the west of Hunmanby.
This assessment work has included work to determine the relationship between the proposed wind farm development and the remote radar station at Staxton Wold.
A new radar system is being proposed for installation at the radar station to avoid any effects from proposed offshore wind farms in the North Sea, and as a result, further assessment work is necessary to determine whether the South Dale wind farm would also have any kind of effect on its operations.
Further assessments are now being commissioned in order to obtain the additional analysis required for the planning application, and discussions are continuing between Banks and the Ministry of Defence about how the interests of both parties can be met to everyone’s satisfaction.
The new work means that a planning application for the South Dale scheme is now not expected to be ready for submission this year.
The Banks community team is continuing to hold regular drop-in sessions in Hunmanby, to help keep community members informed on the latest developments.
Mark Dowdall, environment and community director at the Banks Group, says: “We always endeavour to prepare planning applications which address all potential issues in a thorough and professional way.
“The radar assessments that we’ve been carrying out in recent months suggest that further investigation is needed into this area, so we have commissioned this extra work whilst also continuing our discussions with the Ministry of Defence about the specifics of what we’re looking to do on the South Dale site.
“Having promised to keep everyone informed about the progress we’re making, we are now communicating with all interested parties about where we’ve reached and the additional work that we’re now undertaking.”
Banks is looking to make a capital investment of around £35m in the development of the South Dale wind farm.
If their plans are approved, up to 50 people would be employed on site during its construction, with other jobs supported in the local supply chain, and firms in the region will also be able to tender for construction-related contracts worth around £6million.
Banks would also deliver a range of community and environmental improvements in partnership with local people through a benefits fund that could offer up to £75,000 every year – or around £1.8million in total over the wind farm’s 25-year lifespan – for projects in the area to help ensure tangible, long-term benefits result from the wind farm’s presence there.
Initiatives which could enhance the local tourism sector and help create long-term, sustainable employment opportunities for local young people are currently being considered, and Banks are continuing to gather ideas from the community about how they think this money might best be allocated.
Mark Dowdall continues: “We remain confident that we will put forward a scheme design that is both environmentally acceptable for this location and capable of making a significant contribution to providing a renewable source of energy that we all need, and are working hard to get to a position where we can submit a planning application as soon as we can.
“The community benefits funding that would come with this scheme would leave a positive, long-term legacy for the area that would be enjoyed by local people for decades to come.”
Anyone who would like more information on the South Dale proposals can contact the Banks community team on 0191 378 6100 or via southdale@banksgroup.co.uk
