31 July 08

Coronation Power has resubmitted planning applications to Rochdale and Calderdale Councils to seek permission to build a wind farm at Crook Hill, north of Rochdale. Applications were submitted to the Councils on 11th July 2008. The revised planning applications are for a modified scheme of 8 wind turbines with a lower tip height of 100metres.

The original applications in March 2007 for a 12 turbine, 125m to tip turbines, scheme are the subject of an appeal by Coronation Power due to the inability of the relevant planning authorities to make a decision on the scheme. The majority of the turbines under the original application are in Rochdale, with a lesser number in Calderdale.

Vickram Mirchandani, Managing Director of Coronation Power, says of the reapplications:

"We are profoundly disappointed that the relevant Councils did not take the opportunity to approve our original scheme as they have a lead responsibility in the fight against climate change. The negative impacts of the proposal were very limited, and the potential benefits were considerable. What’s so difficult to decide?

As a result we have appealed for non-determination on the original application, but we thought it would be helpful to make a further application to the Councils with a modified scheme that they may find more acceptable. This gives the Councils and the public the opportunity to take a positive step in supporting measures that should lead to a decarbonised economy. I personally ask that every single person with an interest in this scheme explore their consciences and ask themselves whether they can really oppose this scheme, and if they do so whether they will be able to have the confidence to face up to their children and grandchildren in the future and say that they have done what they can to deal with the considerable threat of global warming."

The revised application includes the removal of 4 wind turbines which reduces the lateral spread of the scheme, and a reduction of the overall tip height from 125m to 100m. A revised improved access track proposal for the site has also been included, along with considerable landscaping improvements to the site entrance off the Calderbrook Road.

Mr Mirchandani goes on to point out:

"Our wind farm proposals in the NW and Yorkshire are some of the last schemes that could be built and operational for 2010. The North West and Yorkshire and Humberside regions are way behind in their 2010 renewables generation targets and consenting schemes such as ours is the only means of making inroads towards them.

Yorkshire and Humberside’s current installed renewables capacity is approximately 168.5MW, whilst the Regional Spatial Strategy target for 2010 is 708MW. Consequently only 24% of the target has been achieved. With respect to onshore wind energy, only 26.3MW has been consented against a target of 341MW. In the North West, the target of 8.5% of generation from renewables by 2010 may not be achieved."