Little Cheyne Court Wind Farm
Construction work is underway on the £50 million Little Cheyne Court Wind Farm - the most powerful onshore wind farm in the south of England.
In a year, the 26 turbines on Romney Marsh will generate clean electricity equivalent to the annual electricity demand of three quarters of the homes in the Shepway District Council area.
The wind farm will make a valuable contribution to the south east target of 20% of electricity to be generated by renewable energy by 2020.
Construction commences five years after the wind farm proposals were first unveiled by renewable energy company, npower renewables.
Regional Development Manager Simon Holt said, "Little Cheyne Court will be a landmark project for Kent, the south east and the UK. It will be the most powerful onshore wind farm in the south of England and every year will offset the release of thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide, making a valuable contribution to the fight against climate change."
The first turbine is scheduled for delivery in May 2008 with electricity generation expected to begin later on that year.
A habitat management group, which includes representatives from English Nature and the RSPB, has been established, whilst a community liaison group, made up of local residents, meets regularly to discuss the construction.
Mr Holt continued, "We will work closely with all parties in the local area to ensure that the building of the wind farm causes as little disruption as possible. If people experience any problems we want them to contact us so that we can reach solutions together. To this end, we have set up a 24-hour phone line, as well as a dedicated email address, so that people can contact us directly."
Anyone who would like to get in touch with npower renewables, please call the community phone line on 08000 193243, or email lcc@npower-renewables.com.
Materials for the project will be delivered to site via a new access track from the A259. Long loads, such as the turbine blades, will come from Junction 10 of the M20, down the A2070 before picking up the A259 at Brenzett.
Deliveries will be sensitively managed in conjunction with the police to keep disturbance and delay to a minimum.
Once Little Cheyne Court is fully operational a community benefits package, worth £60,000 a year over the life of the project, will be established.
