150-metre wind turbine near Bacup requires Calderdale approval

O & G Wind (SPV 7) Ltd wants to build the five-megawatt turbine at Reaps Moss, close to the existing windfarm on the moors between Bacup and Todmorden.

The bulk of the application site falls in Rossendale Council’s remit but the site is accessed off Bacup Road, Todmorden, so Calderdale planners need to consider the issue.

Agents Envams, in supporting statements with the application, said the application is for a single commercial scale turbine on land at Reaps Moss, Henbury Hill Farm, Todmorden Road, Bacup.

Visually, Envams argue that there are very limited locations where the new turbine, if consent is given, could be seen alone due to its proximity to the existing Reaps Moss development, even though it is bigger in size to the older turbines.

“Depending on the view direction and distance of the viewer, the larger 149.9m proposed turbine would likely be read as part of the existing windfarm,” they argue.

Twenty years ago much of the controversy was around a number of windfarm applications affecting Todmorden, Bacup and Rossendale – campaigners against the projects were concerned there would be a “ring of windfarms” effect resulting.

Envams note when considering noise limits that a cumulative noise assessment has been undertaken which incorporates the existing Reaps Moss and Todmorden wind farms located to the south and north of the Henbury Hill turbine respectively.

This uses a conservative methodology approved by Rossendale Council which indicates there might be “very marginal” breaches of upper daytime limits, but very unlikely in practice, they argue.

If approved, the turbine would have an expected 50-year life.

Residents within a kilometre of the proposed turbine have been consulted, the agents say.

The application, number 26/00514/FUL, and supporting papers can be viewed on the council’s Planning Portal.