The recently formed Gartree Wind Power Co-operative has now submitted its detailed plans to Harborough District Council. The plans are for a 3 turbine wind farm to be built at Gartree, near Lubenham, to the west of Market Harborough. The planning submission follows public exhibitions at Lubenham and Market Harborough in July at which hundreds of visitors were able to learn more about the plans and to question the developers directly. A planning decision is expected to be made in around 16 weeks.

The plans follow more than a years study and assessments including measuring wind speeds on the site, assessments of any impact on wildlife, ensuring that the layout of the site provides a good visual balance from key view points, and that sound levels from the turbines would be well within guidance limits.
Most importantly, the survey of wind speeds showed that the wind farm will prevent the release of more than 110 thousand tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the 20 years of its operation.

The wind farm will be co-operatively owned with local population being given priority in applying for shares. Profits will be shared out in proportion to shareholding, and as a co-op each member will have a single vote in the decision making of the co-op. The co-op will also use some of its profits to build a community fund which will support other climate change prevention measures education, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

The wind farm has been planned by Energy4All, a social enterprise which exists purely to help launch and operate renewable energy community co-operatives. Upon receiving planning consent, the project will go forward by raising capital through a share issue. Past share issues mounted by Energy4All have led to the formation of successful energy co-operatives at seven other sites across England and Scotland.

John Malone, Project Director at Energy4All, commented at numerous consultation meetings and exhibitions during the planning of this project "we have met with many enthusiasts, who are keen to become involved in such a direct action against climate change. But we have also met with those with worries about noise levels, or the risk of shadow flicker, or concerns over the visual impact of the three turbines, and in most cases we have been able to allay those concerns. We do hope that this is now recognised as a well-considered project we've done our homework and are confident that a wind farm at Gartree will become as well-supported and popular as our other energy co-ops. Climate change is a global issue, but action to avoid it must take place at every level international, national, and local".