Keadby Wind Farm: Securing Consent for Large Onshore Wind Farms

Combined wireframe of the proposed wind farms.

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Proposals for wind farm developments of any size, always lead to discussion over the possible effects a development might have on views and local landscape. This concern increases when there is a possibility of other wind farm developments in the area, a situation which is becoming increasingly common as more wind farms are developed to meet renewable energy targets. Thus, when dealing with a proposal for a large wind farm, in combination with a number of others, and in a landscape already affected by power stations and pylons; a thorough and easy-to understand landscape assessment is needed to communicate effects and help explain the impacts and assist with the final planning decision.

LDA Design was appointed by Renewable Energy Systems (RES) UK Ltd to undertake the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA ) for the Environmental Statement (ES) for its wind farm at Keadby Grange. During the preparation of the ES, as a result of the recommendations of the consultant team, including LDA Design, the design for the scheme evolved and the number of turbines decreased. The final proposal was for 34 turbines with a blade tip height of 125m.

The proximity of Keadby Grange to a further ten wind farm proposals, notably another large wind farm of 22 turbines - the Tween Bridge development near Thorne, South Yorkshire - made Cumulative Impact Assessment particularly important. We developed an innovative approach to this assessment, ensuring that cumulative effects could be clearly communicated to decision makers.

Keadby Grange wind farm was called to the Section 36 conjoined Humberhead Levels Public Inquiry, to which we were appointed as an expert witness on landscape and visual matters. It was granted planning permission in August 2007 and was, at the time, the largest consented onshore wind farm in England. The other wind farm at the conjoined inquiry, Tween Bridge, was also consented, indicating that concerns over cumulative effects had been effectively addressed by our assessment.