Why Wind?

Our electricity infrastructure is currently changing as a number of coal and nuclear plants are being decommissioned. The government has stated that on-shore wind energy will have a major role to play in providing renewable energy in the UK to replace this lost capacity through the offsetting of electricity generated through conventional means the project will assist with our Country’s obligations to address climate change. The project also provides a vital form of rural diversification, as well as offsetting the carbon dioxide associated with the agricultural operation.

Renewable energy makes sense, we are trying to make the farm, pond and woodland a sustainable environment for future generations to enjoy; and this is a core principal of the pond restoration. To enact this without taking responsibility for our share of climate change would count for little.

We have considered hydro schemes; unfortunately we don’t have sufficient water for this to be viable. We have also considered solar, again, conditions are not ideal requiring the felling of trees and had we pursued this we would have needed substantial security around the installation destroying the rural setting. Solar would have also taken substantial land out of food production. We have above national average wind and good screening of trees from sensitive areas, this one turbine can make a substantial contribution without causing our neighbours inconvenience.

The UK is reliant chiefly on Gas as its principal fuel for electricity generation. Whilst we had North Sea gas this made economic sense, unfortunately we are now reliant increasingly on imported gas. At the same time electricity demand is forecast to increase, especially with electric vehicles becoming more prevalent. Every unit of energy produced by renewables replaces the need to import fuel and reduces CO2 emissions.

The economic benefits of having this turbine will remain local, profits being invested in rejuvenating the pond, then the adjacent woodland. We have additionally committed to donate over £4500 in total to 3 local organisations, and Hempstead Parish Council each and every year the turbine operates. Furthermore we intend to index link these donations ensuring inflation does not erode the value of the donation.

The application was refused by North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) in 2015, and public enquiry appeal held in late 2016 with decision approved. NNDC then decided to challenge the legality of this decision at the high court - in effect taking the secretary of state (SOS) to court. In May 2016 the SOS decided not to defend the action, conceding the wording in two areas was potentially unlawful and so the decision was then quashed.

North Norfolk Council then spent alot of time and tax payers money arguing with the planning inspectorate about the form a new appeal would take, despite conceeding that there was no new additional evidence to present. Eventually after further legal rulings a written approach, with site visit was agreed upon and this took place in the autumn of 2019 with the decision being published in Feburary 2020.

Planning permission was granted. The project has now moved to the next stage.