Geothermal power plant at Land Adjacent Wind Turbine Station Road, Camelford

“PA23/10067 Site address: Land Adjacent Wind Turbine Station Road Camelford Cornwall PL32 9TZ Proposal: Development of a geothermal power plant including site preparation, drilling of two deep geothermal wells, resource testing, construction of a binary cycle power station and subsequent operation.”

“The current application by Geothermal Engineering Limited (GEL) seeks to provide a deep geothermal renewable energy scheme at land adjacent to a wind turbine, Station Road, near Camelford (the site is known as Tregath and will be referred to as such in this report).”

“Site Location 23. The site is located adjacent to Tregath Business Park, approx. 1.4km from Camelford. Access to the Business Park is off the B3266 (linking Camelford with Boscastle to the north). The small settlement of Slaughterbridge lies approx. 800m to the north east of the site. A wind turbine lies immediately to the west of the site and a concrete works lies approx. 186m to the south. The site covers approx. an area of 2.6ha.”

“The Camelford Conservation Area lies approx. 1.2km to the south of the site. The closest Cornwall Wildlife Site (Aldermoor and Treclago) lies approx. 2.5km to the south east. The River Camel Valley and Tributaries Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the River Camel Special Area of Conservation (SAC) both lie approx. 150m to the south east. The site also lies within the Camel River Catchment Area.”

“The adjacent wind turbine was originally granted planning permission under Planning Ref PA13/10532, where permission was granted to replace a previous turbine (with a tip height of 27m) with a new turbine with a tip height of 51m. A further application (PA15/04512) was approved to reduce the tip height to 49.7m.”

“In particular, Policy RE1 states that proposals for renewable and low carbon energy-generating and distribution networks, will be supported in the context of sustainable development and climate change, where they meet the criteria set out in the policy. It is considered that the criteria is met for the reasons set out above and in the original report. For example, the development would contribute to meeting Cornwall’s target of 100% renewable electricity supply by 2030.”

“Even if the conflict with CLP Policies 2, 23 and 24 meant that the development was not in accordance with the development plan taken as a whole notwithstanding that the development is not likely to have significant effects on the environment or the heritage assets (your officers consider that the development is in accordance with the development plan), it is considered that the benefits provided by the scheme in respect of renewable energy provision would provide a…”

“It was acknowledged that there was a need for renewable energy and that each application had to be considered individually, however, development of this site would industrialise a green area. Given the scale of the site, approximately 5 acres, it would adversely affect the landscape, with the development being visible from a public highway frequented by tourists travelling to the beach and surrounding areas; 2.”

“Environment Agency or Natural England; the fact that they had raised no objections provided a reassurance that the environmental risk was low with appropriate mitigations measures being implemented; The visual impact of the proposal was recognised, however, the impact was not considered to be significant enough to refuse the application; Concern that drilling works could generate seismic activity, there was a degree of unpredictability with the proposal; 11.”

“The proposal, by reason of introducing the geothermal power plant with associated infrastructure, including drill rigs, storage units and fencing, would harm the natural and historic distinctive character of the area which includes the setting of a nearby Grade II* Listed Building at Worthyvale Manor. The…”