Smaller wind turbines for Horspath?

June 2011

Following the withdrawal of the application for a huge wind turbine in the Green Belt at Horspath due to MOD concerns, it seems that the City Council may, in the future, submit a planning application for a number of smaller wind turbines on the site instead.

Oxford City Council has just published its Sites and Housing Development Plan Document (DPD) - Preferred Options, which allocates sites in Oxford for a variety of uses such as housing, student accommodation and offices. Future planning applications will be judged against these policies.

In its analysis of the Horspath site, it says on page 121 of the above document: "The City Council is keen to locate a wind turbine in Oxford and this site was identified as an option although the MoD has concerns meaning that a large turbine is unlikely to be suitable here. There may be scope for smaller turbines to be located here but care would be needed in siting them so as not to cause shadow flickering over the sports pitches."

It goes on to say that due to a future shortage of cemetery space in the City, the City Council is looking for possible sites for a new cemetery and that the Horspath site has been ranked joint second when considering issues such as landscape character, access, sustainability and environmental conditions, but this was not based upon weighing up the sites against alternative uses.

The report concludes: "With the cemetery study still in draft and with the need to look further into the possibility of locating smaller wind turbines on the site there is not preferred option stated."

CPRE Oxfordshire will be keeping a close eye on any future applications for smaller wind turbines at Horspath.

‘Victory for common sense’ – CPRE’s reaction to the news that Horspath wind turbine has been scrapped

31st March 2011

On 30th March, Partnership for Renewables (PfR) told CPRE Oxfordshire that the proposed 130m wind turbine, to be sited on City-owned land in the Green Belt at Horspath, has been axed after the Ministry of Defence said it would cause unacceptable interference to surveillance radar.

CPRE Oxfordshire, along with the Oxford Green Belt Network and the parish of Horspath, have been campaigning against the proposed turbine since it was first mooted two years ago.

Responding to the news, Michael Tyce, Chairman of CPRE Thame District, who has led the campaign, told the Oxford Times:

“It would be good if the news about Horspath represented a victory for common sense on the part of Oxford City Council and that the council had come to understand that building monster turbines where it isn’t windy would have been an environmental catastrophe, not a green triumph.”

CPRE Oxfordshire campaign manager Dr Helena Whall said if the plans had gone ahead the council would have “harmed the city’s historic heritage simply to polish its green credentials.”

Partnerships for Renewables, the city council’s partner in the scheme, said although the MoD had objected for “some time”, it had pressed ahead with the plans on advice of aviation consultants. It added: “Despite many months of consultation with aviation consultants and the MoD, we have been unable to find a resolution that will allow a turbine of this scale to be installed at this site without causing unacceptable interference to the MoD’s primary surveillance radar.”

A similar city council turbine plan for Cutteslowe Park in North Oxford was withdrawn last year because it would have interfered with RAF radar systems.

While the MOD has made it clear that the radar problem is one affecting the whole of Oxfordshire, the city council seem undeterred and are now looking for other sites to build a turbine, including land at Sandford Brake, near Grenoble Road. But they have ruled out a long-mooted site at South Hinksey because of the impact on Oxford’s historic skyline.

CPRE will oppose any future proposals for wind turbines in the Oxford Green Belt.

See: CPRE Oxfordshire’s Press Release - 31st March (PDF)

See: Oxford Times - 31st March (external website)

See: Oxford Mail - 31st March (external website)

See: Partnership for Renewables Press Release - 30th March (external website)

See: Oxford City Council Press Release - 30th March (external website)

See: BBC Radio Oxford peice - 30th March (MP3 audio file)

See: BBC Oxford News - 30th March (external website)

Proposed Wind Turbine test mast will damage environment and amenity to no purpose says CPRE

29th March 2011

CPRE Oxfordshire has objected to the planning application by Partnership for Renewables (PfR) to Oxford City Council for a temporary wind monitoring mast next to the ancient village of Horspath.

CPRE says the City Council's "application to itself" to erect the meteorological mast on City owned land at Horspath will tower over the Green Belt and Shotover, and harm the amenity of local residents.

The mast is intended to test the wind at Horspath in advance of an application for a giant, 400 foot, wind turbine in the Green Belt.

If PfR gains planning approval for the mast it will install the 70 meter (230 foot) high structure (approximately 20cm in diameter) in the southern corner of an area of land owned by Oxford City Council, lying just outside of the Green Belt and which is hard up against the BMW plant.

The planning application (11/00672/FUL) was submitted on 28th February and responses need to be submitted by 31st March.

See: CPRE's Press Release - 29th March (PDF)

See: CPRE’s letter of objection (PDF)

See: OGBN’s letter of objection (PDF)

See: Horspath Parish Council letter of objection (PDF)

See: the Planning Application (external website)

PfR submits planning application for wind monitoring mast

9th March 2011

Partnership for Renewables (PfR) submitted a planning application (11/00672/FUL) to Oxford City Council for a temporary wind monitoring mast on 28th February.

According to PfR, ‘this will allow us to learn more about the behaviour of the wind on site and will feed into our ongoing technical investigations to determine if the development is appropriate.’

If PfR gains planning approval for the mast it will be installing the 70 meter high structure (approximately 20cm in diameter) in the southern corner of the area of land owned by Oxford City Council, which is hard up against the BMW plant and not in the Green Belt.

According to PfR: ‘This is not indicative of the proposed turbine location, it is being erected there to avoid disrupting the farming of the land while we gather wind and noise data.’

PfR will be holding a community surgery on Thursday 21 April to discuss project progress and gather feedback in relation to the monitoring mast or any other aspect of the proposal. This will be an informal opportunity for anyone interested in the project to drop in, view plans so far and talk to the project team.

There will also be a to-scale photo montage available from a recognised viewpoint in Horspath village. This will allow community members to gain a better understanding of what the turbine might look like from the village, using an indicative location.

CPRE Oxfordshire will be objecting to the mast.

Michael Tyce, who is leading CPRE Oxfordshire's campaign against the proposed wind turbine said:

"CPRE's key objection to the Met Mast application is that its only purpose is in connection with the proposed development of a 400 foot wind turbine, which, if built, would blight the Oxford Green Belt, the amenity of the residents of nearby Horspath, views from Shotover over the City, and of the dreaming spires within it.

Additionally, the mast itself would be adjacent to, and damage the Green Belt. Planning controls require there to be 'special circumstances' to justify inflicting such harm. There are none. Since the turbine itself would be unacceptable there is no justification for a test mast in relation to it. In any case published wind speed information shows that productivity of a turbine at this site would be minimal (though still potentially profitable to the developers because of the subsidy of three times the value of any electricity produced which consumers would be forced to pay) and there is therefore no possible justification for a trial mast to prove what is already known."

See: the Planning Application (external website)

See: Partnership for Renewables Horspath Project website (external website)

CPRE supports local campaign against giant wind turbine at Horspath

12th January 2011

At a resident's meeting at Horspath Village Hall on Monday 10th January, held to discuss the significance of the proposed wind turbine next to the village, CPRE Oxfordshire confirmed its support for the local campaign against the giant turbine.

In a statement to the meeting, Michael Tyce, CPRE Chairman of the Thame District, confirmed that the CPRE would provide the residents of Horspath with help and advice, and financial support, on the grounds that the proposed wind turbine will affect a vast area of rural Oxfordshire, the precious strip of Green Belt between the City and the village, the views from countless heritage sites in and around the historic city of Oxford, the amenity of local residents and the local environment and wildlife.

CPRE announced that in partnership with Horspath Parish Council it would shortly be flying a balloon at the site of the proposed turbine, at a height of 130 metres (the expected tip height of the proposed turbine), to determine the true impact of such a turbine on the Oxfordshire landscape.

Over 100 local residents attended the meeting to demonstrate their antipathy to the proposed turbine.

Locals residents say 'NO' to wind turbine in Horspath. Front row, from left to right, Michael Tyce, CPRE, Ian Scargill, OGBN and Elizabeth Gillespie, Vice-Chair of SODC's Planning Committee

The local campaign gained considerable momentum when it was confirmed at the meeting that not only was South Oxfordshire District Council opposed to the wind turbine, but that John Howell MP considered the site to be 'unacceptable'.

In her presentation, Mrs Elizabeth Gillespie, Vice-Chair of South Oxfordshire District Council's Planning Committee, conveyed the strong support of the District Council for the campaign to oppose the turbine. As the District Councillor for other nearby villages in the Oxford Green Belt, she wholeheartedly supported Horspath's stand against the turbine developers. She said it is the District Council's intention to vigorously defend the Green Belt around Horspath, and she gave the campaign her Council's full support.

In a message of support to the meeting, Member of Parliament, Dr. John Howell, stated: "Whilst I fully support getting as much electricity from renewable sources as we can, it needs to be recognised that many on-shore sites are simply not acceptable for both locational and operational reasons and that this site is one such unacceptable site. I am very concerned about the impact of the proposed turbine on the Green Belt and on the village itself."

Other key organisations confirmed their support of the local campaign.

In his presentation, Dr. Ian Scargill, Chairman of the Oxford Green Belt Network spoke of his organisation's strong support of Horspath's campaign to oppose the wind turbine.

And Ed Murray, the Chairman of Horspath Cricket Club, explained how the a turbine on the south side of Oxford Road would devastate the chances of playing any serious cricket on the village sports fields on the opposite side of this road.

According to Martin Harris, Councillor for Horspath, a spokesperson from Partnership for Renewables - the wind turbine developer, said the planning application for the turbine will be submitted in the Spring. PfR had previously announced that it would be submitted no later than March.

The application for the test mast is due imminently.

See: Partnership for Renewables Horspath project website (external website)

See: Horspath Parish Council website (external website)

See: Horspath Parish Council Press Release (13th January) (PDF)

See: Oxford Mail (14th January) (external website)

PfR’s application for a test mast for Horspath wind turbine expected soon

7th January 2010

Partnership for Renewables (PfR), had intended to submit a planning application to Oxford City Council for a temporary monitoring mast to measure wind data at Horspath, in advance of submitting a planning application for a single turbine south of Oxford Road, at the end of 2010. It now looks likely that the application will be submitted early this year, since PfR have told CPRE Oxfordshire that the planning application for the turbine will be submitted by March 2011.

Before the met mast construction, PfR will have to produce an Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report.

CPRE will be examining thoroughly PfR’s application for a test mast and its Scoping Report and will respond in due course.

We will object robustly to any planning application for a wind turbine at Horspath on the grounds that the site lies not only within the Green Belt, but in a strategically narrow gap between the City boundary and the historic village of Horspath, where its impact on the resident’s and the local environment will be profound.

See: Partnership for Renewables Horspath project website (external website)

See: Horspath Parish Council website (external website)

Horspath Parish Council will oppose the proposed wind turbine

23rd November 2010

Just weeks before Partnership for Renewables (PfR) is expected to submit a planning application for a test mast at Horspath to gauge the site's wind speed, in advance of erecting a 425 feet (130 metres) high turbine, Horspath Parish Council have issued a statement saying they will be opposing the wind turbine. The Parish Council says that PfR "have grossly overstated the potential efficiency and the benefits of such a huge wind turbine in Horspath." The Council is also calling for a public Planning Inquiry "at which the concerns of the local community in Horspath could be openly and fairly evaluated by an independent Planning Inspector."

The statement goes on to say:

"Horspath Parish Council has identified absolutely no benefits whatsoever for the residents of Horspath which might come from the erection of this 425 feet high wind turbine, and has already started to review the long list of disadvantages which the huge wind turbine would inflict on the village community. Significantly, the wind turbine would tower over the cricket pitches, be highly visible from almost every house and plot in the village, would actually be higher than the top of Shotover Hill, and would introduce the first and most unwelcome industrial use into the Green Belt which surrounds Horspath and on which this rural village depends to separate it from Cowley. It would also create significant noise in such a quiet village, flickering shadows when the blades rotate in direct sunlight, and would also be a potential hazard to local bats, birds and low-flying aircraft. It would truly be an awful 'blot on the landscape' of the surrounding Green Belt, which by its rural openness and the absence of industry provides part of the attraction of living in Horspath."

The planning application for the wind turbine is expected to be submitted in the New Year when a formal consultation period will begin.

CPRE Oxfordshire will be opposing the proposed application and will also be calling for a public planning inquiry.

See: Oxford Mail (external website)

Wind Turbine to go closer to villages of Horspath and Garsington

30th September 2010

The site for the City Council's proposed wind turbine at Horspath could be much closer to the villages of Horspath and Garsington than originally planned. BMW, has concerns that the siting of the turbine might be prejudicial to their future expansion. Rather than risk BMW objecting to their planning application, the City is looking at the option of shifting the site of the turbine.

BMW has told the Council, who want to erect a £3m turbine, with a combined blade and tower height of 130 metres on land they own at Horspath, that it might want to expand the current plant on to its sports ground behind the factory. This would mean that it would then seek to move its sports facilities on to the land on which the turbine was set to be built.

While the City, which owns the land, is not obliged to sell it to BMW, it is unlikely that it will run the risk of BMW objecting to the current proposed location of the turbine.

The proposed wind turbine at Horspath is one of the items for discussion at the Oxford City Council's Executive Board on 6th October. Members will be recommended to approve a new proposal to move the turbine slightly further away from the car factory.

An officer's report to the Board says that the proposed revised option area is "not too dissimilar". It says: "Part of the option is to be removed from the South West of the site and in turn the East part of the site will be extended slightly. Access will now be at the middle of the site rather than the East side. PfR have confirmed that the change will not impact upon their proposals for the turbine at the site."

A revised planning application is expected to be submitted in March.

CPRE Oxfordshire will be carefully considering the implications of the revised siting of the turbine, in particular the adverse impact it will have on local residents.

"Don't sacrifice landscape for the environment" warns CPRE in response to City Council's Horspath wind turbine project.

25th August 2009

Following the recent news that Oxford City Council is planning a large wind turbine at Horspath Road, CPRE has expressed concern at the City's enthusiasm for the project and warned that the development - despite its green credentials – could seriously damage the local environment and harm the amenities of local people.

Oxford City Council announced that they had become the first council in England and Wales to commit to having commercial-scale wind energy developed on its land by Partnerships for Renewables. A site has been identified near the Horspath Road athletics track for a single commercial wind turbine, subject to detailed environmental and technical investigations, with the aim of submitting a planning application by 2011.

See: CPRE Press Release (25 August) (PDF)

See: Oxford Times (20 August) (external website)

See: Oxford Journal (27 August) (external website)

See: Oxford Mail (31 August) (external website)

Wind Turbines proposed on Green Belt in Horspath and Sandford

February 2008

CITY council leaders agreed in February to press ahead with plans for four large wind turbines on land near the BMW plant in Cowley and at Sandford Brake, close to Grenoble Road in Blackbird Leys.

The scheme - which would cost more than £8m and generate enough electricity to power 5,000 homes a year - would be entirely funded by Partnership for Renewals (PfR), which is part of the Carbon Trust. PfR would build the turbines, rent the land from the council and sell back power at a reduced rate - with the rest put on the national grid.

Each mast would be 80m high with the rotors measuring 90m in diameter. Each would generate as much as three megawatts of power a year.

A period of consultation will now take place before a planning application is made.

CPRE has objected on the basis of the turbines being built in Greenbelt.

See: Oxford Times: 'Wind Farm Blight' (external website)

See: CPRE letter to the Oxford Times (external website)

Archived News

Click below to read archived news regarding this campaign:

NO Archived News