Silton, Dorset
The first turbines for Dorset
We have submitted a planning application to construct six turbines near the village of Silton, to the north west of Gillingham.
These turbines will generate enough green energy to power over 7100 homes, saving of the annual emission of over 10,000 tonnes of carbon.
Dorset is one of the last counties off the mark when it comes to wind energy. To reach our national renewable energy targets, every county has their part to play in reducing our carbon emissions.
It’s a perfect time for Dorset to join the green revolution.
Read the latest news for this wind park
Vital statistics
Site address - Silton, near Gillingham
Planning Since - 30 Jun 2008
Turbines - 4
Hub height - 79m
Rotor diameter - 82m
Capacity - 9.2MW
Green electricity per year -
23.7 million units
Equivalent homes - 7,180
CO2 savings - 10,190 tonnes
12 May 2010
Our application for six turbines went to committee late last year. Planning officers felt that the proposal met all their strict criteria and satisfied environmental standards, but it was clear at the committee meeting that some of its members and some people in the local community still had concerns with the proposal regarding landscape and cultural heritage, and the methodology of the noise monitoring studies.
Our aim is always to bring maximum environmental benefit with minimum environmental impact. In response to this feedback, we have spent the last few months working hard to address these main concerns by undertaking further detailed assessments. We have now adjusted the proposal accordingly by revising the layout and number of turbines on the site, and also undertaking additional noise monitoring at nearby residences.
The revised proposal now consists of four turbines, which position the wind park further from Silton village. The proposed turbines remain the modern, gearless model that were in the previous application, which together will produce 20 million units of green electricity each year, the equivalent usage of an impressive 6,200 homes.
10 November 2009
This project was recommended for approval by the Council's own planning department in a 106 page report, but the planning committee voted to turn it down. We withdrew the application and are reassessing the design of the site to see if we can accommodate some of the comments by third parties, including those made by the planning committee.
We operate over 50 turbines the length and breadth of the country. All of our projects have proven themselves to be good neighbours and we would not proceed at Silton unless we can be certain of the same outcome - that's a crucial test we apply to all possible sites. The truth about wind energy today is that properly designed and sited modern wind turbines don’t cause problems for neighbours. With wind energy there is really only one residual impact to discuss – the fact that you can see them. To some people this is a good thing and to others it is not – it is of course in the eye of the beholder.
02 July 2009
Unfortunately the North Dorset district councillors voted against their own council's recommendation to approve the scheme. A number of local residents spoke against the scheme, citing impact on local amenity and health problems despite the council's own assessments to the contrary. The councillors voted unanimously to refuse the application and we await the formal committee hearing report.
This is very disappointing, but not really a surprise. It shows once again that local councils are just not capable of making these decisions. North Dorset council have taken 12 months to make a decision, which is supposed to have been made in four - and even though their own planning officers have recommended approval in a 106 page document - the councillors have not had the backbone to endorse that. Gordon Brown needs to get to grips with this, every week we hear of a new target being set or adopted for onshore wind energy - there's no chance of hitting any of them until the government ends the absurd anomaly of Wind Energy being the only energy source in the UK that gets its planning consent from local councils. Local councils like North Dorset that prove themselves time and again unfit for the job. We will now have to take this to the government for a second opinion, via an appeal - that's where the decision needs to be taken from the start, to save a lot of time and hassle and speed up our response to climate change.
18 June 2009
Good news, the Committee Report for the Silton Wind Park was released today with an officer recommendation for approval.
The 106 page report concludes that the Wind Park will contribute significantly to renewable energy targets and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide. Decision day is the 2nd of July when the committee will consider the report and hopefully give the go ahead.
17 December 2008
Local support is always welcome.
Nice to know we're not the only ones who think wind turbines would look cool in Silton.
01 July 2008
We now have a selection of photomontages (within a 2.5km radius) and information on the proposal available online. In addition a full copy of the application is available to view at the North Dorset District Council offices at Blandford Forum.
If you have any questions feel free to contact us on silton@ecotricity.co.uk
