Concerns have been raised that a plan to replace a wind turbine with one twice as large could affect a protected 18th century mansion and become a "blot on the landscape".
An application on behalf of Devon and Cornwall Logs Ltd to repower an existing wind turbine with a replacement at Lidcott, Laneast, Launceston, will be decided at a Cornwall Council planning meeting on Tuesday (September 1).
Local member Cllr Adam Paynter is taking the matter to committee because of concerns about the visual impact of the larger turbine and its effect on listed properties in the area, including Tregeare House, built in 1790. The council's planning department has recommended approval.
The new turbine would have a tower of up to 84 metres (275ft) with a blade tip height of 115 metres (377ft)37. The current turbine has a hub height of 37 metres (121ft) and a tip height of 50 metres (164). The proposal also includes replacing an existing substation and transformer housing.
If approved, the turbine would operate for up to 40 years and produce about 2,483 MWh of energy per year, saving approximately 435 tonnes of CO2 each year.
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Council planners have said that a turbine of the scale proposed would "inevitably give rise to adverse effects on the landscape, by virtue of its height and movement alone". However, they note that the "significant renewable energy generation which the proposed development would make to address the climate emergency would, on balance, outweigh the harm caused".
Laneast Parish Council voted against the proposal, stating: "Although we are not opposed to wind farms in general we cannot agree to this current application. The very height of the turbine must mean that it will be more of an intrusion into the lives of more people in the area and could be considered a blot to the landscape.
"Obviously if the planning application had indicated a re-powering using a smaller maximum height then our decision might have been different. As the new turbine is so much bigger than the one it will be replacing the impact on the health and safety to persons passing the windfarm or situated at home through shadow flicker and/or noise has not been addressed or assessed thoroughly."
Natural England has no objection, but Historic Environment Planning concluded that the proposal would harm the setting of the designated heritage asset, Tregeare House.
There are 18 comments on the council's public portal, with 16 against and two in support. Here are three of them:
"Tregeare House, a Grade II listed building dating back to the 1700s, is a heritage property that has enjoyed beautiful views over a landscape that has remained unchanged for centuries. I implore Cornwall Council to review this application taking into consideration the severe impact that this will have on the legacy of the property."
"I wish the planning committee to carefully consider at what point do they limit the proliferation of large turbines in this area, it cannot be limitless. The blight on the landscape, noise, environmental concerns and negative impact on neighbouring properties are paramount, aside from the inevitable collateral damage arising from the logistics of construction."
"The applicant runs a sustainable kiln dried firewood business. This is of great benefit to local residents, without central heating, such as myself. The fact that they are investing in renewable energy to power this operation is to be commended. North Cornwall does indeed have a number of turbines – this is simply because we do have significant wind power available, which we should be harnessing."
The matter will be discussed by the council's east sub-area planning committee at the authority's Bodmin office on Tuesday at 10am.
The meeting comes less than two weeks after a proposal for four turbines, which will be 150 metres to blade tip, [was approved](https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/cornwall-planning-wind-farm-replaced
Giant Turbine Plan Raises Fears for Protected Mansion