Banks Developments wind farm plans unveiled

Dec 14 2009 by Kelley Price, Evening Gazette

A DEVELOPER has revealed plans for a multi-million pound wind farm development on land around Stillington near Stockton.

Banks Developments wants to build four to six turbines around the village, three miles east of the A1(M).

The £15m Lambs Hill project would include a small combined heat and power (CHP) plant on Stillington Industrial Estate. Banks bosses claim the supply of cheaper electricity and heat from the four megawatt system could help secure the long-term viability of several businesses.

A public exhibition giving details of the scheme will be held in the New Year.

Banks’ renewables projects director, Rob Williams, pictured, said the project would help contribute to the Tees Valley meeting its targets of renewable energy generation.

“It will provide an indigenous, carbon free, secure electricity supply. These kinds of developments are critical to the future of the UK’s energy infrastructure. Many of the businesses based on the Stillington Industrial Estate consume high amounts of energy. Our proposed CHP plant would provide them with a secure supply at a stable cost, something which can only help support their continuing presence and provision of employment in the area.

“We look forward to getting people’s responses. Their feedback will help form our thoughts on the size and scale of the development. We have already spoken to some business and they’re keen, but obviously they need more details.”

The Durham-based company, which developed Stockton’s Bowesfield business site, has its roots in coal mining and moved into the renewables sector around five years ago.

It built the North-east’s largest windfarm development near its own offices at Tow Law and its planned Moor House farm, at Barmpton, near Darlington, is also one of the largest onshore schemes in the region. Up to 10 turbines could be built if the development goes ahead, producing enough green electricity to power 11,500 homes.

By contrast the Stillington project would generate enough electricity to power 3,000 homes.

Altogether the company currently has consent for 50MWs of renewable energy projects, with another 120MWs in the planning system across the North of England and southern Scotland.