Lambrigg

Application to extend the operational life of Lambrigg Wind Farm receives planning consent

Ventient Energy submitted a planning application to South Lakeland District Council in December 2022 to extend the operational life of Lambrigg Wind Farm by an additional ten years. Lambrigg Wind Farm comprises 5 wind turbines each rated at 1.3 MW with an overall site capacity of 6.5 MW. The wind farm has been operational since September 2000.

The application received planning consent during March 2023 thereby extending the consented operational life of the wind farm until July 2034. Ventient Energy would like to thank all stakeholders who engaged with and supported the planning application

What was the application?

The original planning consent for the wind farm was due to expire in July 2024. A comprehensive range of assessments had demonstrated the technical capability of the wind farm to operate safely and efficiently throughout the proposed extended period. Therefore, Ventient Energy wished to secure planning consent to operate the wind farm for a longer period of time.

What are the benefits of an extended period of operation?

Extending the operational life of Lambrigg Wind Farm presents a significant opportunity to continue to generate enough clean electricity to supply around 5,167 homes* every year, contribute to the energy transition for a cleaner and healthier future for everyone, and support the wellbeing of local communities through the wind farm’s Community Benefit Fund.

The operation of the wind farm involves the work of three technicians employed full time and numerous contractors who make use of the local services during their visits to the site.

How can I find out more information?

The FAQ document issued to local community councils and ward councillors prior to the submission of the planning application can be downloaded here:

Lambrigg Wind Farm Life Extension – FAQ (131KiB – Adobe PDF)

Any questions relating to the life extension application should be directed to WindFarms@ventientenergy.com

When it opened in September 2000, Lambrigg was the largest wind farm to be built in England since 1993 and each of the 5 turbines were named after school children from nearby Old Hutton and Grayrigg Primary schools. As well as being a wind farm Lambrigg, is also used for sheep farming. Lambrigg’s underground cables feed the electricity generated via an on-site substation to an existing local grid connection.

The 5 turbines, each rated at 1.3MW, give the site an installed capacity of 6.5MW and generate enough energy to power 5,167 homes*.

Benefiting local communities

Lambrigg Wind Farm is close to a number of small communities including New Hutton (pop. 348), Grayrigg (242) and Docker (260). The wind farm’s community fund is administered by the New Hutton Parish Council and Parish Meetings at Grayrigg, Docker and Lambrigg. In recent years, support has been given to a wide variety of projects including providing outdoor play equipment for Old Hutton Pre-school and Playgroup, funding new computers and a kitchen extension for the New Hutton Institute and providing additional chairs and tables for St Stephen’s Church.