Changes to the proposed master plan for Eastgate Renewable Energy Village in Weardale will be the subject of a fourth round of community consultation as the submission of the planning application nears.

In November, homes and businesses in Wear Valley will receive a newsletter giving a full update on progress at the site. It will also offer the opportunity to comment on the amendments made since the master plan for the redevelopment of the former Lafarge cement works site was endorsed by the Weardale Task Force as the basis for pre-planning work in November 2006.

Eastgate Project Manager John Topliss said: "In preparing plans for the Eastgate site there have been three previous rounds of formal public consultation, as well as long term liaison with residents and businesses.

"This fourth opportunity gives everyone in the District a chance to see the changes proposed to the layout and comment on them before we submit the planning application early next year."

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Proposals for Eastgate Renewable Energy Village will utilise all five forms of land-based renewable energy available in the UK - wind, solar, hydro, biomass and geothermal – a concept Eastgate has described as "unique" to the UK.

Amendments to the master plan for the site now include a larger biomass plant than previously envisaged, and this is expected to generate levels of electricity equivalent to that needed to power every property in the dale.

This follows a detailed assessment of the visual impact the originally proposed commercial wind turbines would make on the surrounding Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and their removal from the proposals. Three smaller state-of-the-art vertical wind turbines are however now proposed on the valley floor close to the geothermal borehole.

Mr Topliss added: "The changes to the master plan have come about through ongoing liaison with the local community, and the receipt of additional comments from various agencies and government departments, as well as interest from commercial organisations.

"Our consultancy team continues to work on the environmental impact and traffic assessments that are an integral part of the planning application process. Additional findings from these, and any further comments received from the public in response to our updated plans, will be incorporated in the outline planning application."

If planning permission is granted for the Renewable Energy Village, a not-for-profit organisation, initially including members of the Weardale Task Force and with community representation, is intended to be set up to progress the development of the site and then oversee its management. Lafarge Cement UK will hand over the site, free-of-charge, to the new organisation once planning permission is granted.

(NS/JM)