THE OPERATIONAL life of wind turbines in West Cumbria has been extended after a decision by Allerdale Borough Council’s Development Panel.

Cannock Windfarm Services Limited submitted planning permission to Allerdale asking to extend the operational life of their seven wind turbines in Siddick from 25 years to 35 years.

The company submitted the same request for nine wind turbines at Oldside Wind Farm, proposing that they remain operating on the coast for a further 35 years. Both sites will be in place until 2031.

Prior to Tuesday’s planning meeting, it was agreed: “Members need to re-evaluate the merits of the proposal in the context of the present updated planning policy context and indeed any change of circumstances arising during the original operational timescale of the windfarm development.”

The recommendations to keep wind turbines in place for both sites were approved by Allerdale Council’s development panel. The recommendation to approve further operations at Siddick was made subject to the securing of a s106 legal agreement to: “Provide a £15,000 contribution to nature conservation projects in the locality of the site.”

It was required that the agent undertake a Greater Crested Newt survey in the year prior to the decommissioning works. A contribution of £14,080 was required for approval of the Oldside application as well as the undertaking of surveys on amphibian, reptile, bat, badger, otter and invertebrate.

The approval also required:

- The submission and approval of an agreed amenity mitigation strategy in the event of the allocated Gypsy/traveller allocation being both approved and implemented.

- Before development commences, a detailed method statement for the long-term management/ eradication of invasive species on the site as outlined in the WYG ecological appraisal report dated December 2020 on the site shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority.

The latest meeting of the council’s development panel where the applications were approved was held on Tuesday in the SEN Centre at Lakes College, Workington.

The press and public can attend meetings of the development panel but can be excluded from discussions about some items on the agenda if they involve commercially sensitive information.