Design and Access Statement Site: Broad Marsh Chalet, NR17 1LN

Design and Access Statement 

Site: Broad Marsh Chalet, NR17 1LN 

Agent Details 

Name: 

Windcrop Limited 

Contact: 

Tracey Dorling 

Address: 

The Granary, Honingham Thorpe, Norwich NR9 5BZ 

Telephone: 01603 882152 

Email: 

tracey@windcrop.co.uk 

Reference: Design and access statement 

Date: 19 th March 2012 

Contents 

This supplementary information document contains; 

 

 

 

Summary details on the location and proposed renewable energy system. 

Supporting Planning Statement – National Policy Context. 

Local Validation Requirements – including the following subheadings as laid out in the 

Breckland District Council Local Validation Requirements: 

Biodiversity Survey and Report 

Economic Statement 

Environmental impact statement 

Flood risk, Foul Sewage, Utilities and surface water drainage Assessment 

Heritage statement 

Land Contamination Statement 

Landscaping Details 

Lighting Assessment 

Noise impact assessment 

Transport Assessment/Travel Plan 

Schematic views and photos of the turbine – Appendix A. 

Noise report – Appendix B. 

Site photographs – Appendix C. 

Photo visualisation – Appendix D. 

If planning officers would like to visit a similar installed turbine locally to take readings on 

sound levels or to gain a good firsthand appreciation of the scale of the turbine, it would be 

possible to arrange this. 

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Project Overview 

The project will provide Broad Marsh Chalet with a suitable method of generating a 

renewable, sustainable and efficient electrical energy supply using two Windcrop HY-5 small 

wind turbines. The turbines to be installed are economically viable, robust and quiet by design 

and extremely efficient. The turbines will be mounted two 15m towers and will be grid 

connected to a Single Phase supply. 

Site Description 

Installation location: 

Broadmarsh Farm 

Long Street 

Great Ellingham 

Norfolk 

NR17 1LN 

OS grid reference: Turbine 1, X – 602262, Y – 296240 

Turbine 2, X – 602289, Y – 296248 

Estimated Annual Mean Wind Speed: 

Expected annual energy: 

Expected annual carbon saving: 

5.0 m/s 

9.02 MWh per Turbine 

4.84 tonnes per Turbine 

Nearest neighbour: 135m approximately from proposed location – 

‘Shelton Lodge’ 

Nearest public road: 

Description: 

163m approximately from proposed location – Long 

Street 

Turbine 1 will be located on rough ground on the 

edge of agricultural land to the north of the farm 

yard. 

Turbine 2 will be located approximately 20m to the 

east of turbine 1. 

The development comprises two small scale wind turbines. The proposed sites have been 

chosen to minimise any visual impact and/or noise disturbance. Crime prevention measures do 

not appear to be relevant to this development. 

The height of the tower has been selected to ensure that it is the required height to capture 

the wind energy on this site whilst keeping any impact to a minimum. The turbine has been 

designed for low noise operation and minimal visual impact. 

The tower is a matt grey colour galvanised to BSEN1461 while the turbine housing and blades 

have an anti-erosion coating in white. These characteristics will help it blend in with both the 

sky and the rural background at the location. 

Wind energy is an abundant natural resource. It is non-polluting, clean and sustainable. The UK 

has one of Europe‘s windiest climates and wind energy will be an important element in 

achieving the targets contained in the government’s UK Low Carbon Transition Plan published 

in Summer 2009. The overall target is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 34% below 1990 

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levels by 2020. More specifically, it is Government policy to achieve 30% of the nation’s 

electricity requirements from renewable sources by 2020. 

The Windcrop HY-5 wind turbine will be Micro generation Certification Scheme (MCS) 

approved. The turbine is CE marked and approved for sale in the UK. 

System Specification 

Wind turbine: 

Rated power: 

Hub height (ground to 

centre of hub): 

Rotor diameter: 

Tower type: 

Turbine finish: 

Blade finish: 

Tower finish: 

Rotor speed: 

Tip speed: 

Rotor orientation: 

Windcrop HY-5 

5kW @ 12m/s (26.0mph) 

14.97 m 

5.6 m 

Rotor swept area: 24.63 m 2 

Number of blades: 3 

Power regulation: 

Electrical connection: 

Tapered free standing tower (steel) & Helical Pile Foundation 

All exposed parts pot galvanised, painting in matt white 

Glass Fibre Reinforced Composite, anti-corrosion coating in matt 

white 

Matt grey galvanised to BSEN1461 

240 rpm nominal – maximum 280 rpm 

70.3m /sec nominal – maximum 82.1 m/sec 

Downwind, self-regulating 

Variable pitch system (mechanical) & G59 compliant inverter 

Single phase 

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Supporting Planning Statement – National Policy considerations. 

Wind energy is an abundant natural resource. It is non-polluting, clean and sustainable. The UK 

has one of Europe‘s windiest climates and wind energy is expected to be an important element 

in achieving the targets contained in the government’s UK Low Carbon Transition Plan 

published in Summer 2009. The overall target is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 34% 

below 1990 levels by 2020. In 2008 the UK agreed to achieve 15% of our national energy 

consumption from renewable energy by 2020, from a starting point of just 1.3% in 2005. More 

specifically, it is Government policy to achieve 30% of the nation’s electricity requirements 

from renewable sources by 2020. The Committee on Climate Change were asked by the new 

Coalition Government to review these targets and concluded in September 2010 that they 

should remain at their previously agreed levels. 

Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22), Renewable Energy (August 2004) and the accompanying 

Companion Guide, cover all aspects of renewable energy including considerations for the siting 

of wind turbines and encourages favourable views towards small scale renewable power 

sources. The PPS, Companion Guide and Technical Annex identify a number of specific issues 

that need to be considered when determining an application for planning permission: 

 

 

 

 

Noise: paragraph 41 of the Technical Annex states that noise levels from wind turbines 

are generally low and, under most operating conditions, it is likely that turbine noise 

would be completely masked by wind-generated background noise. The report, ‘The 

Assessment and rating of noise from Wind Farms (ETSU-R-97), describes a framework 

for the measurement of wind farm noise and gives indicative noise levels calculated to 

offer a reasonable degree of protection to wind farm neighbours, without placing 

unreasonable restrictions on wind farm development or adding unduly to the costs 

and administrative burdens on wind farm developers or planning authorities. The 

report can be regarded as relevant guidance on good practice. This methodology 

overcomes some of the disadvantages of BS4142 when assessing the noise effects of 

wind farms, and should be used by planning authorities when assessing and rating 

noise from wind energy developments (PSS22, paragraph 22). 

Visual and Landscape Impact: Of all renewable technologies, wind turbines are likely 

to have the greatest visual and landscape effects. However, the impact of turbines on 

the landscape will vary according to the size and number of turbines and the type of 

landscape involved, and these impacts may be temporary if conditions are attached to 

planning permissions which require the future decommissioning of turbines. 

Safety: the Technical Annex identifies little or no risk arising to the public and states 

that properly designed and maintained generators are a safe technology. 

Ecology: PPS22 (paragraph 15) states that local nature conservation designations 

should not be used in themselves to refuse planning permissions for renewable energy 

developments. The Technical Annex states that the impact of a wind farm on local 

ecology should be minimal. A common concern has been the risk of bird strike; more 

recently, an additional concern around the risk of harm to bats has emerged. 

Electro-magnetic Production and Interference: the Technical Annex (paragraph 64) 

states that provided careful attention is paid to siting, wind turbines should not cause 

any significant problems of electrical interference. Scattering of signal is a 

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phenomenon that arises very occasionally and effects on radio or television 

transmitters can usually be resolved through careful siting, in consultation with the 

relevant bodies. 

 

 

 

Specialist Consultation: It may be necessary to consult specialist bodies, including 

users of telecommunications systems, local utility companies, or emergency services 

on occasions. 

Shadow Flicker: PPS22. Shadow flicker is a rare event which sometimes can occur 

when the shadow of the turbines blades play on nearby buildings at certain times of 

day and days of the year. It most commonly would affect nearby buildings to the East 

or West of the turbine at dusk and dawn. However this is not a problem normally 

found with small wind turbines and the siting of this installation eliminates any risk of 

shadow flicker on neighbouring buildings. Planning for Renewable Energy A 

Companion Guide to PPS22 advises that turbines should be positioned at least 10x the 

diameter of the rotor blades away from the nearest dwelling to prevent the possibility 

of shadow flicker. 

Icing: The Companion Guide states that the build-up of ice on turbine blades is unlikely 

to be a problem. For ice to build up on wind turbines particular weather conditions 

are required that in England occur for less than one day per year 

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Siting and scale 

It has been normal practice to site utility scale wind turbines on elevated and exposed ground 

in order to achieve the highest possible energy capture and optimise the economics of the 

project. This has led to considerable opposition to wind power projects wherever they have 

been proposed. It is important to appreciate that the proposed turbine is of a completely 

different scale to the now familiar utility scale giants, which may have tower heights of 100m 

and rotor diameters of 80m or more. 

By way of comparison, the proposed installation sits on a 15 metre mast with a rotor diameter 

of 5.5 metres and is closer in scale to a typical telegraph or power transmission pole, which 

forms a familiar aspect of our rural landscape. The diagram below demonstrates this contrast. 

120m 

110m 

100m 

90m 

80m 

70m 

60m 

50m 

40m 

30m 

20m 

10m 

Typical Wind Farm Turbine 

compared with proposed 5kW turbine 

Rotor Dia (m) 82 5.4 

Hub Height (m) 78 15 

Power(kW): 1,650 5 

Output(MWh/yr)4,300 7.4 

CO2(t/yr) 1,900 4.0 

Eq households 970 1.7 

Views on Small Wind Turbines 

 

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB): 

The RSPB has in the past been a strong opponent of many large wind farms, however they 

have recently expressed their support for renewable energy, including wind farms and locally 

generated energy. 

“We particularly support solutions that enable individuals and communities to generate their 

own power close to their homes and businesses. 

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Wind power is the most advanced renewable technology available at a large scale during this 

time period. For this reason, the RSPB supports a significant growth in offshore and onshore 

wind power generation in the UK. 

We believe that this growth can be achieved in harmony with, rather than at the expense of, 

the natural environment. We will therefore continue to require that wind farms are sited, 

designed and managed so that there are no significant adverse impacts on important bird 

populations or their habitats.” 

http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/policy/windfarms/index.asp 

 

The National Trust: 

"We are committed to investing in small-scale renewables, greater energy efficiency, and using 

low carbon materials and products to reduce our use of fossil fuels." 

“From our practical experience, we believe that small-scale renewable energy has huge 

potential to be a cost effective and sustainable means of providing affordable heat and 

electricity to homes and businesses.” 

http://209.85.229.132/u/nationaltrust?q=cache:CDXpfDxCiYwJ:www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mai 

n/w-microgen-policy_from_practice.pdf+microgen&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&ie=UTF-8 

 

English Nature: 

English Nature’s response to renewable energy: "We welcome the scaling up of wind energy 

both onshore and offshore, and want to work with government and industry to find the right 

places for new wind energy development. 

We believe that the target will need to be delivered at all scales. Small scale community energy 

production has an important role to play in making rapid progress toward the UK renewables 

target while larger scale projects, with a much longer lead-in time, are developed." 

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/about_us/news/2008/260608.aspx 

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Local Validation Requirements 

In preparing this section of the documentation, the Breckland District Council Local Validation 

Requirements have been reviewed and information is provided in all relevant categories. 

Economic Statement: 

Each wind turbine is expected to generate an average of 9.02 MWh of electricity each year, 

equivalent to a saving of 4.84 tonnes of carbon dioxide. This yield data has been calculated 

from the Small Wind Turbine Yield Calculator, jointly developed by the Carbon Trust and 

Renewable UK (formerly BWEA) and which is widely recognised as the most accurate yield 

forecast tool available. In particular it has addressed many of the issues of overoptimistic yield 

forecasts from earlier tools which did not take account of local geographic conditions. 

This installed capacity will also help to contribute towards regional targets for renewable 

energy generation included in the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan. 

Biodiversity: 

A site check has been made using the Multi Agency Geographic Information for the 

Countryside Interactive Map (MAGIC), managed by Natural England on behalf of DEFRA. The 

site is not situated in a protected habitat area, nor is it located close to one. We conclude that 

the proposed development does not present a risk to protected sites or their designated 

features. 

In addition, the proposed site has been assessed in accordance with guidelines for the siting of 

small wind turbines, prepared by an established independent ecological consultant, so as to 

minimise risks to protected species. The site assessment considers features which may be 

used by bats or birds, and takes account of the available guidance in relation to the siting of 

small wind turbines. These features comprise trees, hedgerows, ponds and waterways, 

including permanently wet ditches. A micro turbine on or close to any hedgerow or linear 

feature may increase the likelihood of an effect on bat populations. The relationship to 

connective habitat is also taken into consideration, as many species of bats follow linear 

features when travelling between foraging sites and a roost. Isolated or fragmented habitat 

features are less likely to be used by bats as they provide little cover or foraging potential. 

Particular attention has been paid to ensuring that the site is an appropriate distance from 

potential bat habitats and roost sites. Bats roost in a wide range of buildings and all buildings 

except those constructed from non-traditional, modern or pre-fabricated materials, are 

considered as potential bat roosts. Large mature trees (girth greater than 300cm) are also 

potentially suitable as roost sites. 

There are no known bat roosts or buildings that could potentially become bat roosts within 

50m of the site, and the closest potential foraging feature is located over 25m from the 

turbine. No trees, hedgerows or scrub will be affected by the installation and the turbine is 

not expected to disturb any ground dwelling fauna. Hence the risk of harm to protected 

species is considered minimal. 

Landscape and visual impact: 

The site is not situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Care has been taken to 

minimise the landscape and visual impact, and views from adjacent receptors have been 

considered. No significant landscape or visual impact issues have been identified. Images of 

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the site and surrounding area are provided at Appendix C and a visualisation of the turbine 

viewed from approximately 100 m is provided at Appendix D. 

We conclude that the small scale of the development will not have an unacceptable impact on 

landscape or visual amenity. 

Heritage Statement: 

A site check has been made using the MAGIC interactive map to identify any relevant 

archaeological sites, scheduled ancient monuments, conservation areas and historic parks and 

gardens, a copy of which is enclosed. None were identified within 1.5km of the site. The 

proposed location is not in the vicinity of any known Conservation Areas. 

A listed building search has been conducted using the online search engine maintained by 

English Heritage, with the following results; 

The search identified sixteen listed buildings within a 1Km radius of the proposed installation. 

1. Church of St James (LB) is situated approximately 942 metres to the north northwest 

of the proposed development with various fields, hedging, trees of various sizes and 

existing buildings in the intervening area between the two locations. A description of 

the church is provided below; 

TM 09 NW GREAT ELLINGHAM CHURCH STREET 

5/21 Church of St. James 16/ 7/58 - G I 

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Parish church. Mainly early C14, restored 1900-20. Flint with ashlar dressings and gabled lead 

roof. West tower, nave, aisles and continuous chancel. 3 stage tower with diagonal buttresses 

to west, angle to east.Chequered flushwork base and west door of double quadrant mouldings, 

3-light Perpendicular west window with transom and hood mould. 2-light Y belfrey windows 

cinquefoiled. Chequered flushwork battlemented parapet above string course. Short octagonal 

leaded needle spire. Diagonal buttresses to north aisle. 2-light west window of divergent 

mouchettes and segmental window arch. North porch with 4-centred arch below statue niche, 

both with hoods. Inner wall arch to west and 2-light cusped window. Inner door with undercut 

hollow and wave mouldings. Butt purlin roof. Remainder of aisle windows as west except last 

bay (the Mortimer chapel) : north window C2O, 3 lights; east window 3-light cusped 

intersecting ogees. Blocked 4-centred door with fleurons. String course of chapel continuous 

with chancel. 3 tall 2-light chancel windows with cinquefoil arches supporting double 

reticulation within larger unit. Hood moulds form continuous string course. Eastern angle 

buttresses. East wall chequered flushwork. 5-light east window divided 2-1-2 with heavily 

cusped arches supporting elementary petal motif below encircled quatrefoil vesica. 2 3-light 

chancel south windows with convergent mouchettes and hoods forming string course. Arched 

priest's door between. South aisle east window as Mortimer chapel. 3 stepped buttresses and 

early C20 2 and 3-light windows. Arched south door. Clerestory walls of knapped chequered 

flushwork containing 5 2-light windows on both sides, those to west halved by tower. Interior 4 

bay arcade, quatrefoil between fillets on south with moulded bases and capitals, similar but 

with sunk quadrant to north and polygonal capitals. Double sunk quadrant arches, including 

tower arch. Clerestory windows behind deep reveals above piers. Nave roof of tie beams on 

arched braces dropping to head corbels with traceried spandrels. Short King posts and braces 

to ridge piece. Wall plate with boxed ashlaring. Renewed principals. C18 chancel rooLof, thin, 

false hammerbeams. Aisle roofs from restoration. Early C18 gallery at west supported on pair 

of timber Doric pilasters below metoped frieze. Gate with H hinges. Second stage forms ringing 

chamber. Mid C14 octagonal font with Kentish tracery panels and shields and fleurons below 

bowl. Part of C15 painted screen with elaborate traceried fields above dado of foliated 

encircled trefoils. Rood loft stairs blocked on north side. 2 painted consecration crosses on 

south wail and remains of wall painting of Pilgrims approaching shrine. Wide sculptural niche 

under tripartite nodding ogee vault, cusped with crockets and finials. Remains of painting 

including good torso of Angel, probably late C14. Remains of parclose screen to southeast 

chapel with petal tracery of same date. Chapel has piscina under foliated cinquefoil head and 

bench sedilia. Jambs remain of chancel sedilia. 

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2. The Old Queens Head (LB) is located approximately 558 metres to the north east of 

then proposed development with various fields, existing buildings, hedging and trees 

of various sizes in the intervening area between the two sites. 

3. Baptist Chapel (LB) is situated approximately 451 metres to the north west of the 

proposed development with various fields, existing buildings, hedging and trees of 

various sizes in the intervening area between the two sites. 

4. Barn 150 yards south east of Old Hall Farmhouse (LB) is located approximately 594 

metres to the north west of the proposed development with various fields, existing 

buildings, hedging, trees of various sizes and Long Street in the intervening area 

between the two sites. 

5. Old Hall Farmhouse (LB) is situated approximately 719 metres to the north west of the 

proposed develpoment with various fields, existing buildings, hedging, trees of various 

sizes and Long Street in the intervening area between the two sites. 

6. Barn 30 yards north west of Old Hall Farmhouse (LB) is situated approximately 745 

metres to the north west of the proposed develpoment with various fields, existing 

buildings, hedging, trees of various sizes and Long Street in the intervening area 

between the two sites. 

7. Poplar Farmhouse (LB) is located approximately 508 metres to the north west of the 

proposed development with with various fields, existing buildings, hedging and trees 


8. Grey Roofs (LB) is located approximately 756 metres to the north west of the proposed 

development with with various fields, existing buildings, hedging and trees of various 

sizes in the intervening area between the two sites. 

9. Row of thatched cottages to north side of green (LB) is situated approximately 888 

metres to the north west of the proposed development with with various fields, 

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existing buildings, hedging, trees of various sizes, Long Street and Town Green in the 

intervening area between the two sites. 

10. Windmill (LB) is located approximately 779 metres to the north west of the proposed 

development with with various fields, existing buildings, hedging and trees of various 

sizes in the intervening area between the two sites. 

11. Mill Farmhouse (LB) is located approximately 815 metres to the north west of the 

proposed development with with various fields, existing buildings, hedging and trees 


12. 1 – 5 Church Street (LB) are situated approximately 847 metres to the north west of 

the proposed development with various fields, existing buildings, hedging, trees of 

various sizes and Church Street in the intervening area between the two sites. 

13. 9, 11 & 13 Church Street (LB) are situated approximately 861 metres to the north west 

of the proposed development with various fields, existing buildings, hedging, trees of 

various sizes and Church Street in the intervening area between the two sites. 

14. The Olde Thatche Shoppe (LB) is located approximately 876 metres to the north 

nortghwest of the proposed development with various fields, existing buildings, 

hedging and trees of various sizes in the intervening area between the two sites. 

15. Islay House (LB) is located approximately 905 metres to the north nortghwest of the 

proposed development with various fields, existing buildings, hedging and trees of 

various sizes in the intervening area between the two sites. 

16. Glenfield Cottage (LB) is situated approximately 986 metres to the north northwest of 

the proposed development with with various fields, existing buildings, hedging and 

trees of various sizes in the intervening area between the two sites. 

We conclude that the small scale of the development will not cause any adverse effect on the 

above listings. 

Noise Impact Assessment: 

The turbine manufacturer has commissioned an independent noise report as part of the 

accreditation procedures required to enable the equipment to qualify for the Feed-In Tariff 

(FiT) scheme introduced on 1 April 2010. Appendix B details the noise impact assessment. The 

distance to the garden boundary of the nearest neighbour is approximately 113 metres to the 

west southwest of the installation. Existing agricultural buildings, trees of various sizes and 

hedging are situated between the turbines location and the neighbour and leads us to 

conclude that the neighbouring property will not be adversely affected. 

Below Ground Environmental Impact: 

A helical pile foundation system is used in place of traditional concrete foundations. The mast 

is mounted on a tripod which is located by three helical piles. These are inserted by rotation 

and are normally drilled to a depth of 3-4m. Each ‘foot’ rests on a pad, excavated to a depth of 

approximately 250mm and measuring approximately 600 x 500 mm. The piles are 

approximately 3m apart and can be removed by the same method, leaving no residual 

structure. Helical piles do minimal damage to the ground and any (under)ground dwelling 

animals, as well as being easily retracted on decommissioning of the turbine. 

The connection cable is buried 600mm deep in a 150-175mm wide trench (x cable length). A 

Ditchwitch ‘pedestrian trencher’ RT24 is used to cut and backfill the trench. The trenching is 

completed as a single operation, taking no more than a day. Disturbance to ground vegetation 

is therefore minimal and temporary in nature. As a result, restoration of the site following decommissioning 

is very low impact and existing flora in the area adjoining the site will be 

retained. 

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No ancillary structures or buildings are required to house electrical equipment or controllers, 

which will be mounted to the mast base. The cable to feed the generated power to the nearest 

building will be buried in accordance with BS7671:2008. 

Shadow Flicker: 

The nearest dwelling is approximately 135 metres from the proposed installation, which is 

outside the recommended calculation of 55 metres for the selected turbine. 

Flood Risk Assessment, Foul Sewage and Utilities Assessment, Surface Water Drainage: 

Considering each of these and the nature of the proposal, it is concluded that these are not 

applicable to the project because the turbine will not create or use any extra water. No sewage 

will be generated from the site and surface water drainage will be unaffected. 

Land Contamination Statement: 

The proposed site is two small areas of rough ground on the northern periphery of the farm 

yard and is not known to be contaminated. The installation will not result in contamination 

and on decommissioning the helical piles will simply be unscrewed leaving no residual 

material. 

Lighting Assessment: 

No external lighting is to be installed on or around the turbine. 

Parking Provision: 

No dedicated parking or other access provision will be required for the turbine. 

Photographs: 

Please see appendix C. 

Transport Assessment/Travel plan: 

The installation process will generate minimal traffic, involving one day on site to insert the 

foundation helical piles and erect the turbine. 

Following installation, access will be required for routine maintenance only. Access will be via 

the existing entrance to the farm yard, which would also provide good access for any 

emergency services in the unlikely event they were required. 

The remaining items which appear on the local list have been considered and determined to 

be not relevant to this application. 

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Appendix A - Schematics 

The diagrams below are representative of the system proposed to be installed. 

The 15m tower is supported by a patented tripod system which is located on three helical 

piles, each of 4m depth. This type of foundation system has the advantage of being more 

environmentally sensitive than a large concrete block and easier to remove to reinstate the 

site in future. 

Windcrop is a Micro generation Certified Scheme (MCS) accredited installer and an ISO9001 

certified organisation - the works will be completed by our own installation. 

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Side View of Windcrop HY-5 

Front view of Windcrop HY-5 

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Appendix B - Noise Report: Windcrop HY-5 

Acoustic Impact Assessment of Small Wind System Installation 

Introduction 

The Windcrop HY-5 is designed to minimise noise generation. Wind generator noise issues in 

the past have chiefly arisen from either mechanical gearbox noise or aerodynamic noise. 

The Windcrop HY-5 generator is a direct drive system and has no significant sources of 

mechanical noise. 

The Windcrop HY-5 generator blades are specifically designed to minimise aerodynamic noise. 

To achieve this, the rotor is designed to operate at unusually low speed, with a nominal blade 

tip speed of 70.3m/s. The blades vary in twist and chord along their length to maximise 

efficiency and thus minimise noise. In particular, the blade chord has been kept as small as is 

practicable near the tip. Also the blade tips themselves are carefully shaped specifically to 

minimise noise. 

Measured Noise Levels 

The Windcrop HY-5 is currently undergoing noise testing as part of the overall testing 

requirement for its accreditation under the Micro generation Certification Scheme (MCS). The 

relevant testing standard is MCS006 - Micro and Small Wind Turbines, which references the 

BWEA Small Wind Generator Performance and Safety Standard (29 February 2008). Noise 

testing and assessment procedures and criteria are detailed in Section 3: Acoustic Sound 

Testing and Appendix A: Notes on the Use of Noise Label Information. 

The provisional BWEA Reference Sound Levels at 25m and 60m at an 8m/s hub height wind 

speed are: 

Lp, 25m = 52.5dB(A) 

Lp, 60m = 45dB(A) 

The location of the property and the generator is such that the nearest neighbour is in excess 

of 135m distant. It is anticipated that the generator’s noise performance will satisfy the 

standards and will not impact neighbouring properties. Testing on a comparable installation, 

mounted on a 15m pole achieved a noise immission of below 45dB(A) at any point greater 

than 50m from the installation at wind speeds up to 8m/s or Force 5. Above these wind 

speeds, the noise from the surrounding trees and buildings would be much greater than that 

from the generator. 

Recommended Good Practice on Controlling Noise from Wind Turbines 

From ‘The Assessment and Rating of Noise from Wind Farms’ (ETSU-R-97). 

The current practice on controlling wind farm noise by the application of noise limits at the 

nearest noise-sensitive properties is the most appropriate approach. 

Noise limits should be applied to external locations and should apply only to those areas 

frequently used for relaxation or activities for which a quiet environment is highly desirable. 

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Noise limits set relative to the background noise are more appropriate in the majority of cases. 

Generally, the noise limits should be set relative to the existing background noise at the 

nearest noise-sensitive properties and the limits should reflect the variation in both turbine 

source noise and background noise with wind speed. 

It is not necessary to use a margin above background noise levels in particularly quiet areas. 

This would unduly restrict developments that are recognised as having wider national and 

global benefits. Such low limits are, in any event, not necessary in order to offer a reasonable 

degree of protection to wind farm neighbours. 

Separate noise limits should apply for day-time and for night-time as during the night the 

protection of external amenity becomes less important and the emphasis should be on 

preventing sleep disturbance. 

Absolute noise limits and margins above background should relate to the cumulative effect of 

all wind turbines in the area contributing to the noise received at the properties in question. 

Any existing turbines should not be considered as part of the prevailing background noise. 

Noise from the wind farm should be limited to 5 dB(A) above background for both day- and 

night-time, remembering that the background level of each period may be different. 

The L A90,10min descriptor should be used for both the background noise and the wind farm noise, 

and when setting limits it should be borne in mind that the L A90,10min of the wind farm is likely to 

be about 1.5-2.5 dB(A) less than the L Aeq measured over the same period. The use of the 

L A90,10min descriptor for wind farm noise allows reliable measurements to be made without 

corruption from relatively loud, transitory noise events from other sources. 

A fixed limit of 43 dB(A) is recommended for night-time. This is based on a sleep disturbance 

criteria of 35 dB(A) with an allowance of 10 dB(A) for attenuation through an open window 

(free field to internal) and 2 dB(A) subtracted to account for the use of L A90,10min rather than 

L Aeq,10min . 

Both day- and night-time lower fixed limits can be increased to 45 dB(A) to increase the 

permissible margin above background where the occupier of the property has some financial 

interest in the wind farm. 

In low noise environments the day-time level of the L A90,10min of the wind farm noise should be 

limited to an absolute level within the range of 35-40 dB(A). The actual value chosen within 

this range should depend upon: the number of dwellings in the neighbourhood of the wind 

farm, the effect of noise limits on the number of kWh generated, and the duration of the level 

of exposure. 

For single turbines or wind farms with very large separation distances between the turbines 

and the nearest properties, a simplified noise condition may be suitable. If the noise is limited 

to a L A90,10min of 35 dB(A) up to wind speeds of 10 m/s at 10 m height, then this condition alone 

would offer sufficient protection of amenity, and background noise surveys would be 

unnecessary. 

Page | 17



Appendix C - Site photographs 

View north from turbine 1. 

View east from turbine 1. 

Page | 18



View south from turbine 1. 

View west from turbine 1. 

Page | 19



Panoramic view north east south from turbine 1. 

Panoramic view south west north from turbine 1. 

Page | 20



View north from turbine 2. 

View east from turbine 2. 

Page | 21



View south from turbine 2. 

View west from turbine 2. 

Page | 22



Panoramic view north east south from turbine 2. 

Panoramic view south west north from turbine 2. 

Viewpoints 

Page | 23



Viewpoint 1 from the farm yard to the east looking west. 

Viewpoint 2 from the farm yard to the northeast looking southwest. 

Page | 24



Viewpoint 3 from Long Street to the south southwest looking north northeast. 

Viewpoint 4 from Long Street at the site entrance to the west southwest looking east 

northeast. 

Page | 25



Viewpoint 5 from foot path to the northwest looking southeast. 

Page | 26



Appendix D – Visualisation 

Viewpoint 

Page | 27

Design and Access Statement Site: Broad Marsh Chalet, NR17 1LN

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