BASE HEADER

Yes

ID sylw: 107632

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Napton Parish Council

We broadly agree with the approach. Whilst there is Draft Policy D for Large Scale Renewables, the context against smaller scale systems and energy conservation should have more emphasis. The wind profile for Central England is not particularly promising - the National Wind Database suggests average wind speeds of 6.2m/s 45m above ground level. The equivalent figure in a western coastal area might be about 7.2m/s. Power is proportional to the cube of the wind speed, so the same installation would be about 56% more effective at the coast for these sample speeds.

Whilst it is relative, within the Districts the Arup study unsurprisingly prioritises areas of ‘hilly landscapes’ for wind generation by dint of higher windspeeds. The policy should seek to balance visual harm against energy generation rather than agricultural land classification. In this respect, single farm scale turbine masts are likely to have better balance in terms of impact rather than large scale wind farms.