By Ian Duncan

Last updated at 12:53, Wednesday, 23 January 2013

Developers are hoping to build a wind turbine, measuring 45m to the tip of the blade, on farmland in Durdar.

The area around Peastree Farm

The planning application has been recommended for approval and will be decided by members of Carlisle City Council’s development control committee on Friday.

In a report by Shona Taylor, one of the council’s planning officers, she said the application was for a site at Peastree Farm in Durdar.

She added: “Peastree Farm is located approximately 5km south of Carlisle and is accessed from a farm track which is located to the north of the Dalston-Durdar Road in close proximity to Durdar village.

“The farmstead comprises a farmhouse to the south with associated agricultural buildings which vary in age, design and materials to the north.”

Ms Taylor said that the application was deferred at the last meeting after committee members raised a number of issues relating to it. She said: “The application site is set within agricultural land located approximately 100m to the north of the farmsteading.

“The submitted Planning Statement indicates that the nearest non-associated neighbour is situated 550m to the south west of the site at Park Fauld Farm. Floshes Farm to the north east is also 580m away.

“The area immediately surrounding the application site is made up of agricultural land in the form of open fields. The properties to the east of the site, along Durdar Road, are over 650m away.”

In 2011 permission was granted for a wind turbine measuring 27.1m to the tip of the blade.

Ms Taylor added: “This new application has been submitted as turbine technology has improved rapidly allowing a 30m hub turbine to produce 225kw rather than the 20m hub height turbine approved previously which would only produce 20kw.”

The application also requests an access track which would consist of 4m wide hard standing.

Following a period of consultation the plan received three letters of objection and objections included:

• it is too large and would have an adverse effect on the view and landscape
• it is a commercial venture – not for the benefit of the farm
• low frequency noise
• it could lead to more applications for larger turbines
• visual impact
• the indicated output generated appears to be significantly greater than that required to meet the needs of the farm.

The application has been recommended for approval subject to conditions.

First published at 11:48, Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk