A proposal to install two wind turbines at Leigh Farm, which is council-owned land in Pucklechurch, will be explored in detail so that specific proposals can be prepared for planning consideration.
If approved, the scheme would be run by Bristol Energy Network (BEN) but managed through a local Community Intertest Company, which can reinvest the surplus income from selling electricity back into the communities based on local priorities.
The two turbines could generate more than 8.5MW, enough electricity to power the equivalent of over 6,000 homes per year.
Additionally, the project would be able to deliver funding for local community projects, including those that increase the affordability of energy for local people in the surrounding areas, such as Pucklechurch, Emersons and Lyde Green and Westerleigh.
The decision taken by South Gloucestershire Council’s Cabinet on Monday 14 July does not authorise the project to construct the turbines. It gives BEN the time to work up the full business case and proposals for how the money received from selling the power generated could be channelled to local communities.
The Cabinet also approved to transfer another small parcel of land to Pucklechurch Parish Council to create a wildflower meadow and haven for local wildlife. They also agreed to allocate another part of the area to develop a formal site for Travelling Showpeople, which was first proposed in the new draft Local Plan for South Gloucestershire. The plans would also see tree planting over 30 hectares in the surrounding area.
It is expected that BEN will engage with local residents, councils and groups about how the plans will evolve, before coming back to South Gloucestershire Council and making a planning application.
Currently, due to national electricity grid constraints, if the turbines were installed, the power would not immediately be able to be fed into the grid, however options will now also be explored to connect them directly to the Bristol and Bath Science Park (BBSP). Such a connection would enhance BBSP’s attractiveness to inward investment, especially in digital, technology, and advanced manufacturing sectors, with potential benefits for South Gloucestershire and a wide range of industries.
South Gloucestershire Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for the council’s properties, Councillor Adam Monk, said: “There is potential for this project to deliver clean and green energy, which would be good for our environment. At the same time, there is the prospect of seeing financial benefits flowing directly to communities.
“The proposals so far look good for both the economy and the environment. Not only in terms of clean energy production, but they could support increased energy security locally, as well as local economic growth and jobs.
“As a council we are committed to making the best use of our land and other assets. We want to help our local communities thrive now and into the future, so we will look forward to seeing the more detailed proposals from Bristol Energy Network in due course.”
South Gloucestershire Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for climate and nature action, Councillor Louise Harris, said: “This project has such potential to help us meet our goals to become carbon neutral. We need to wait for the details, but we look forward to seeing what comes forward once our communities have been able to engage with Bristol Energy Network.”
