Planning application submitted for up-to-80m-tall wind turbine at Bishop's Castle

The application is for the "construction and operation of a wind turbine with a maximum height to blade tip of 80m".

Most of the power generated by the wind turbine would be used by large air-source heat pumps, the output from which would be pumped around the town, supplying heating and hot water to the Community College, the SpArC Leisure Centre and swimming pool, and to approximately 100 houses and businesses.

There will also be some photovoltaic panels and large thermal storage tanks. The heat pumps will turn each unit of energy from the wind into two or three units of heat. Any surplus electricity can be sold to SpArC or exported to the grid. 

The project is being led by ’Shropshire & Telford Community Energy’ and ‘Light Foot Enterprises’, a local environmental charity.

Mike Watkins of Light Foot said: "This is a huge step forward in this project and we look forward to the committee granting us planning permission in the spring. We have had three well-attended public meetings about the project and participated in many other events and have been encouraged by the overwhelming support we have received."

Bishop’s Castle Town Council gave unanimous support for the project to be included in the local Place Plan and the project has been supported financially by the Government’s Community Energy Fund.

Mike Watkins added: "Work is also continuing on developing the Heat Network proposal,  an application for further resources to the ‘Green Heat Network Fund’ will be submitted in January, and further planning applications for the Energy Centre and some photovoltaic panels will be submitted in late 2025. All this wouldn’t have been possible without ‘Shropshire & Telford Community Energy’ and the main consultants Sharenergy and Carbon Alternatives."

As well as a substantial reduction in the town’s high carbon footprint arising from the use of oil and LPG for heating, the community ownership model will ensure the people of Bishop’s Castle benefit financially, with protection provided against future price shocks.

This planning application will be one of the first in the country since the Government relaxed the planning guidance on wind turbines in July, and is in line with the Government’s wish for a doubling of onshore wind by 2030, which 70 per cent of the population now support. 

For further information contact Dave Green dave@sharenergy.coop. More details can be found at https://lightfootenterprises.org/heat-network.