AN energy company has scaled back the size of the wind farm it wants to build near Whitchurch.

EDF Energy Renewables updated the public on its proposals at an exhibition in Whitchurch Parish Hall on November 16 which attracted nearly 200 people.

It was initially planning to install up to 17 turbines at Bullington Cross, near the junction of the A34 and A303. But now the company has confirmed that the number will drop to 14, and all turbines will be more than 800m away from the nearest “non-involved properties”.

The reduction has been achieved by the removal of the two most northerly wind turbines proposed for the site, along with the most easterly. Other minor location changes have also been made to some of the other turbines. The proposed maximum height will remain at 126.25m.

Darren Cuming, onshore wind development manager at EDF Energy Renewables, said the reduction was as a result of feasibility studies and community feedback. He added: “We believe this will create a more compact layout and will result in less visually -intrusive effects, both locally and in the wider landscape.

“We hope to submit a planning application for the revised scheme to the relevant planning authorities by the end of the year.”

Under the new plans, seven of the turbines would be located within the planning authority of Winchester City Council, four would be in Basingstoke and Deane and three in Test Valley. The revised proposal would have a capacity of around 28MW and would be capable of providing enough electricity to meet the average annual consumption of over 13,000 households.

Mr Cuming added: “Our review has confirmed that the proposed Bullington Cross site meets our wind farm selection criteria and we consider it to be an optimum site for a wind farm.”

For more information visit bullingtoncross windfarm.co.uk.