Current Progress

• The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process is now underway for all issues of potential concern including Ecology & Ornithology, Geology & Hydrology, Landscape & Visual Character, Cultural Heritage, Traffic & Access and Noise. Surveys will be conducted over several months. During this time there will be consultation with statutory bodies such as Natural England, Environment Agency, the Local Planning Authorities and the public. Developments or adjustments to the proposal may be required and considered throughout this process. If at any time during the consultation process any comments or questions arise, do not hesitate to contact Enertrag UK. Details of future consultation events will be publicised with adequate notice when more information is available.

• A 'Scoping Request' has been sent to South Northamptonshire District Council regarding the proposal.

Scoping Request

Enertrag have sent South Northamptonshire District Council a request for a 'Scoping Opinion' which will detail the requirements of a subsequent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The scoping opinion is the first stage in the planning process to indicate what issues should be addressed in more detail.  A thorough Environmental Impact Assessment will be carried out and is anticipated to take approximately 1 year, commencing after receipt of the Scoping Opinion.  Enertrag will look to submit a planning application and Environmental Statement (ES) after the completion of the EIA.  There will be opportunity for public consultation during this process.

The Site

The proposed wind farm is located on arable agricultural land between the villages of Weston and Sulgrave, Nothamptonshire.  Nine turbines, each with a maximum output of 2 MW, are proposed on the site in a 3 x 3 grid configuration as shown on the below site layout map.

The exact turbine locations cannot be confirmed until all the findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment have been collated.

The Turbines

The specific model will not be finalised until after planning permission is granted.  The reason for this is that the technologies are constantly moving forward and at the time of placing the contract for the turbines Enertrag would want to take advantage of the turbine that best suits the site.

However each turbine will be a maximum height to the hub of 85m with maximum rotor diameter of 90m. The diameter of the tower at the base will be approximately 4m.  The siting of the turbines is based on the following:

• The turbines will produce electricity to be fed back into the national grid via underground cables.
• Enertrag UK site all turbines a minimum of 700m from any residential property, this is not a requirement of any planning legislation but a figure that Enertrag have found reasonable to counteract any issues with noise or shadow flicker.
• The turbines have to be sited a set distance from each other as recommended by the manufacturer to enable each turbine to generate the maximum amount of electricity.
• Vehicle access routes will be provided between the turbines for construction and maintenance; these will follow the existing tracks and field boundaries where possible.
• The final arrangement for the foundation will be confirmed once the turbine manufacture is determined.
• The land around the turbine will be flat as the foundation would be buried. Once construction is complete, the land can continue to be farmed right up to the turbine tower.

Energy Production

Indicative Displacement Calculations for a Nine Turbine Wind Farm

Installed capacity per turbine	Total annual wind farm output (MWh)	Equivalent No. households (consumption)	CO2 Saving (Tonne/Yr)
2MW	47,304	10,064	20,340

Planning Process

As part of the planning process, Enertrag UK will provide opportunity for the public to demonstrate their views and get involved with the public consultation.  A consultation document will be available during this time.  If you have any comments or queries please use the comments form available on this website.

Enertrag UK will also hold public consultation sessions in the area to give members of the community a chance to meet the team and have their questions answered.  Dates of these sessions will be published in due course.

A copy of the scoping request can be accessed from ‘downloads’ at the top of this page.

As part of the planning process, Enertrag UK are required to produce an Environmental Statement (ES).  The process of producing this is known as an Environmental Impact Assessment and will cover the effects and impacts of the development including ornithology, ecology, archaeology, noise, geology and landscape.  Enertrag UK will work very closely with experts in these fields in order to produce the ES.  Once the ES is complete, Enertrag UK will submit a planning application to the local authority.