MoD Offers Conditional Consent

The MoD has proposed a number of options regarding the North Walsham project. From Claire Duddy (Assistant Safeguarding Officer - Renewable Energy, Defence Estates):

Firstly we can approve a single turbine of 126m now.

The second option would be a condition stating that the radar at Trimmingham is to be upgraded by the time the turbines are operational. This way a conditional consent can be given for all 3 turbines.

Thirdly, we could give consent for a single turbine and attach a condition for the remaining two.

Regarding time scales, we are hopeful of an upgrade by April 2011, however this cannot be guaranteed.

This means that we can get a single turbine up and running as soon as possible, and that we can plan for the other two to be up and running within two years.

Given current timescales, mid-2011 is probably the soonest that we would be able to commission the first turbine anyway.