Crook Hill wind farm planning application submitted

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Coronation Power has submitted its planning application for a wind farm on land known as Crook Hill, between Wardle and Littleborough.  The developers say the 36MW wind farm will generate electricity for up to 20,000 homes in the area, help Rochdale and the Greater Manchester region meet its renewable energy targets and provide £900,000 to local community environmental and education projects.

The planning application for the Crook Hill project has been submitted after nearly two years assessing the environmental impact of the wind farm proposal, detailed technical studies and widespread consultation with people living and working in the surrounding area. The studies have looked at a range of issues including landscaping, local ecology and hydrology, noise, bird movements, archaeology and the wind farms’ construction.

The public consultation programme included local exhibitions as well as meetings with the Wardle Society, the Littleborough Community Forum, the Crook Hill Commoners and individuals. 

The Crook Hill wind farm will have up to 12 turbines and will generate up to 36MW of electricity, the equivalent to the annual energy needs of about 20,000 homes.  The developers say it will displace over 80,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide that would otherwise be produced by conventional fossil-fuel power stations.

Subject to receiving planning consent from Rochdale and Calderdale Councils, the installation and operation of the wind farm is targeted for the second half of 2008; it will be connected to the National Grid for use in the North West.

Vickram Mirchandani, Coronation Power’s Managing Director, said: “In recent weeks, we have heard some people dispute the contribution that wind power can make, and we have even had some people question whether climate change is just an illusion.  However, most people accept that there is a problem and something must be done.  It is an issue affecting all of us and we must all look at ways to protect our environment for generations to come, rather than rely on somebody else doing something.  It’s a shared responsibility: whether it’s through improved energy efficiency, low emission vehicles, recycling and in this instance renewable wind power generation. This country needs more renewable energy capacity now and onshore wind is the immediate and most readily available answer.  

“Crook Hill is an ideal site for wind power and we want to ensure that local people can directly benefit from it.  We have proposed a Community Fund to support local projects, primarily in the areas of education and the environment and this has been broadly welcomed.  The installation of the wind farm will generate £900,000 for local area community projects and the Fund will be managed by local people for local people for the 25 year life of the wind farm.”