Boddington Reservoir turbine approved by Daventry Council

Published: 15/12/2011

Renewable energy developer, Partnerships for Renewables (PfR), has been given planning permission to construct a 1.5 megawatt, 105m high wind turbine on land owned by British Waterways at Boddington Reservoir in Northamptonshire.

Daventry District Council’s planning committee met this week and approved plans for what will be the district’s largest wind energy development.  Following a presentation from the council’s planning officers, councillors on the planning committee voted 6 to 2 in favour of approving the planning application in line with the officers’ recommendation.

Councillors were told that, unlike previous wind energy proposals in the district, there had been no objections to the proposals from any of the expert consultees such as Natural England, English Heritage or the MOD. The officers’ report to the planning committee also highlighted that local ward councillor in Byfield, Cllr Bob Patchett, had written to confirm his support for the application.

Regional Manager for Partnerships for Renewables, Jerry Sturman, said:

“PfR is delighted with the decision from Daventry District Council. We have spent more than two years consulting with the local community and stakeholders to ensure that the proposals we put forward were appropriate for the location.

“We will continue to consult the local community as we begin the detailed construction planning required before work commences at the site. We plan to construct an operational turbine by the end of 2012 and expect to produce enough electricity to power more than 700 homes.

“PfR is anxious to ensure that the local community feel involved throughout the lifetime of this project. We want to show that, when done responsibly, wind energy development can be a positive thing for communities in Northamptonshire and elsewhere.”

PfR has said it will begin consultation with local stakeholders early in 2012 to discuss plans for Traffic Management and timetables for construction, as well as putting plans in place for the delivery of a community benefit fund.

Richard Mercer, Head of Utilities at British Waterways, added:

“Daventry Council’s decision is a welcome one.  In April next year we will become the Canal & River Trust, a charitable trust, independent of government, which will aim to give local waterway communities a greater role in the running their waterways.

“The money and the community interest generated by this green energy development will both help a great deal as we aim to make the community-led vision for the waterways a reality.”
For further information on the work at Boddington Reservoir, call 0800 731 7395, visit www.pfr.co.uk/boddington, or find the site on Facebook at ‘Boddington Wind Turbine’.

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