Really? Wiltshire Council lavished public funds on the Stonehenge and Avebury WHS Setting Study, which provides the background to the Core Policy 59 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy, adopted with such pomp in October 2025 to shield the site's Outstanding Universal Value from the scourge of all intrusion and they now submit their own application (PL/2025/06175) for a 24-metre (blade tip) wind turbine at High Post Salt Store. Where, one wonders, is the viewpoint study, the photomontages, or any hint that the authors have actually perused their own guidance? The mood on Bluesky seems to be that merely "the flashing tip of the erection" will peek through the trees. I would prefer my view from the monument without that.
The elevation plan of the view from Stonehenge, from eye level, to the proposed Wind Turbine shown to vertical scale. Click to enlarge .
My own amateur work as the planning documentation failed to include one.
The elevation plan from Woodhenge is even worse.
The Setting of the Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), adopted by Wiltshire Council in October 2025, addresses tall or high structures (explicitly exemplified as pylons, wind turbines, radio masts, industrial and incinerator chimneys) with particular stringency due to their potential to harm the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the World Heritage Site (WHS) through changes to its setting.
Key Provisions on Tall Structures
- County-wide screening requirement — Unlike most other development types, which trigger screening for Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) only within specific distances (e.g., 1–5 km) or on sensitive features (e.g., ridgelines or astronomical alignments), tall structures require screening for all planning applications anywhere in Wiltshire. This reflects their potential for long-distance visual impact.
- Rationale for broad application — The SPD notes that "tall structures and other major development could affect the setting of the WHS even when sited on land that is not itself visible from the WHS" (page 9). Height allows them to intrude into views, skylines, or the broader landscape context experienced from the WHS or its key monuments, even from considerable distances.
- Application to neighbouring areas — While the SPD formally covers Wiltshire, it highlights that large-scale or very tall proposals in adjacent authorities (e.g., Swindon Borough, Test Valley, Hampshire) also have "some potential to affect the setting and hence OUV of the WHS" (page 9), implying consultation or consideration where relevant.
Implications for Structures Near the WHS
For tall/high structures proposed near the WHS (e.g., within the visual envelope, on elevated land, or along key sightlines), the impacts would be subject to even closer scrutiny through the HIA process outlined in Section 3.0. The SPD's detailed descriptions of setting (Part 2, Chapters 4 and 5) emphasise protecting views, visibility, relationships between monuments, and the open, largely undeveloped character of the landscape. Intrusive vertical elements that disrupt skylines or distant backdrops would likely be assessed as harmful to OUV attributes.
In summary, the SPD does not impose an outright ban but establishes a robust assessment framework. Tall/high structures face presumptive sensitivity across the county (and potentially beyond), with a clear intent to safeguard the WHS from visual harm. Developers should undertake early screening and, if required, a proportionate HIA informed by the SPD's methodology and setting descriptions.
A further objection letter:
Subject: Objection – Energy Efficiency and Suitability
of Proposed 11kW Wind Turbine at High Post Salt Store
I am writing in relation to the planning application
proposing the installation of an 11 kW
wind turbine intended to offset energy usage at the High Post Salt
Store, which supports Wiltshire Council’s road gritting operations. I wish to
object to this proposal on the grounds of energy efficiency and operational
suitability, based on analysis of both the site’s energy profile and local
weather data.
1. Energy Demand Profile
A salt storage and gritting facility of this size
(approximately 500–1,000 m², no scaled plan is provided) typically exhibits low baseline
electrical consumption—estimated at 20,000–50,000 kWh/year for activities
such as lighting, ventilation, and machinery. However, it experiences significant
peaks during winter operations, when 100–500 kWh
per operational night may be used for extended lighting, dehumidification,
and loading. These peaks occur during the coldest nighttime periods—frequently
under high-pressure systems with very low wind speeds.
2. Turbine Output and Intermittency
The proposed 11 kW
turbine, installed at 18 m
hub height in Wiltshire’s moderate wind regime, would have an
expected annual yield of 7,000–14,000 kWh/year, corresponding to
a capacity factor of 7–15 %.
However, energy generation falls to zero or near zero below the 3–4 m/s cut-in speed, meaning the
turbine will produce minimal power on calm, freezing nights when demand is at
its highest.
UK climatic patterns, particularly in southern Wiltshire,
show an inverse relationship between low temperatures and wind strength—cold
high-pressure systems bring calm weather, while stronger winds accompany
milder, low-pressure conditions. Consequently, the turbine is unlikely to
provide meaningful output during critical winter gritting operations,
making on-site generation unreliable and necessitating continued grid
backup.
3. Empirical Site-Specific Analysis
To assess this mismatch, I analysed local conditions
using Boscombe Down weather data (Met Office station ID 03746, located ~1.2 miles from the site) for 8–14 December 2025. This period included a
representative cold spell.
Temperature observations:
- Range: 1°C–14°C (lowest
values late 12 to early 14 December).
- “Near-freezing”
hours (≤5°C): 35 hours,
mostly overnight.
Wind data (converted from km/h
to m/s):
- Average
for full 168-hour period: ~6 m/s
(22 km/h).
- Average
during freezing hours: ~2.5–3 m/s (mostly
below cut-in).
Using the turbine’s power curve:
|
Wind speed (m/s)
|
Output (kW)
|
|
<3
|
0.0
|
|
4
|
1.1
|
|
5
|
2.8
|
|
6
|
5.0
|
|
7
|
7.3
|
|
8
|
8.9
|
|
9
|
10.4
|
|
10
|
11.4 (max)
|
Energy calculations:
- Overall
week: Avg. output ≈ 5–6 kW → 900–1,000 kWh
total energy (typical for a breezy period).
- Cold
hours (≤5°C): Avg. output ≈ 0.5–1 kW → 20–35 kWh
total.
The turbine would have produced most of its energy during
milder, windier periods (e.g. 9 December and 14 December
afternoon), but virtually none during the actual cold spell when gritting
demand would peak.
4. Suitability and Policy Context
This performance profile demonstrates that the proposed
turbine is unsuitable for reliably offsetting on-site energy use during
operationally critical cold weather. The mismatch between supply and demand
undermines its stated purpose and may provide limited practical
decarbonisation benefit for the facility.
Wiltshire Council’s Climate Strategy Delivery Plan supports
achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 through off-site renewables
and green energy procurement, rather than requiring direct on-site matching.
Relocating the turbine to a more exposed council-owned site or
contributing to a community renewable scheme would yield the same
annual offsetting (7,000–14,000 kWh/year)
via grid export, in line with national
onshore wind strategy, while avoiding visual and environmental sensitivities at
High Post.
5. Requested Action
Before determining this application, I request that the
applicant be required to:
- Submit
a detailed analysis using local historical data from Boscombe Down station (03746) to
substantiate the turbine’s output during freezing conditions.
- Demonstrate
operational compatibility with the salt store’s demand profile,
including peak winter nights.
- Consider
alternative offsetting approaches, including the redeployment of the
turbine to a more wind-productive site or participation in community-scale
generation.
In conclusion, while the goal of renewable energy offsetting
is commendable, the proposed on-site turbine at High Post is technically
inefficient for the intended operational need. A strategy based on off-site
renewable contribution would achieve equal or greater environmental
benefit with improved reliability and policy alignment.
Appendix: Temperature and windspeed data from: https://meteostat.net/en/station/03746?t=2025-12-08/2025-12-14
Turbine performance calculated from supplied data sheet
|
time
|
temp
|
wspd km/h
|
wspd m/s
|
Approx. Power (kW)
|
|
2025-12-08 00:00:00
|
8
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-08 01:00:00
|
9
|
13
|
3.61
|
0.13
|
|
2025-12-08 02:00:00
|
10
|
22
|
6.11
|
1.30
|
|
2025-12-08 03:00:00
|
11
|
20
|
5.56
|
0.93
|
|
2025-12-08 04:00:00
|
11
|
19
|
5.28
|
0.78
|
|
2025-12-08 05:00:00
|
11
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-08 06:00:00
|
11
|
20
|
5.56
|
0.93
|
|
2025-12-08 07:00:00
|
12
|
19
|
5.28
|
0.78
|
|
2025-12-08 08:00:00
|
11
|
15
|
4.17
|
0.29
|
|
2025-12-08 09:00:00
|
12
|
20
|
5.56
|
0.93
|
|
2025-12-08 10:00:00
|
12
|
22
|
6.11
|
1.30
|
|
2025-12-08 11:00:00
|
13
|
19
|
5.28
|
0.78
|
|
2025-12-08 12:00:00
|
13
|
20
|
5.56
|
0.93
|
|
2025-12-08 13:00:00
|
12
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-08 14:00:00
|
12
|
20
|
5.56
|
0.93
|
|
2025-12-08 15:00:00
|
12
|
15
|
4.17
|
0.29
|
|
2025-12-08 16:00:00
|
12
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-08 17:00:00
|
12
|
22
|
6.11
|
1.30
|
|
2025-12-08 18:00:00
|
12
|
22
|
6.11
|
1.30
|
|
2025-12-08 19:00:00
|
12
|
20
|
5.56
|
0.93
|
|
2025-12-08 20:00:00
|
11
|
19
|
5.28
|
0.78
|
|
2025-12-08 21:00:00
|
12
|
20
|
5.56
|
0.93
|
|
2025-12-08 22:00:00
|
12
|
28
|
7.78
|
2.87
|
|
2025-12-08 23:00:00
|
12
|
28
|
7.78
|
2.87
|
|
2025-12-09 00:00:00
|
12
|
26
|
7.22
|
2.26
|
|
2025-12-09 01:00:00
|
12
|
32
|
8.89
|
4.37
|
|
2025-12-09 02:00:00
|
11
|
33
|
9.17
|
4.81
|
|
2025-12-09 03:00:00
|
11
|
41
|
11.39
|
9.38
|
|
2025-12-09 04:00:00
|
11
|
41
|
11.39
|
9.38
|
|
2025-12-09 05:00:00
|
11
|
41
|
11.39
|
9.38
|
|
2025-12-09 06:00:00
|
11
|
37
|
10.28
|
6.85
|
|
2025-12-09 07:00:00
|
11
|
33
|
9.17
|
4.81
|
|
2025-12-09 08:00:00
|
12
|
37
|
10.28
|
6.85
|
|
2025-12-09 09:00:00
|
12
|
26
|
7.22
|
2.26
|
|
2025-12-09 10:00:00
|
13
|
35
|
9.72
|
5.77
|
|
2025-12-09 11:00:00
|
13
|
35
|
9.72
|
5.77
|
|
2025-12-09 12:00:00
|
13
|
33
|
9.17
|
4.81
|
|
2025-12-09 13:00:00
|
13
|
35
|
9.72
|
5.77
|
|
2025-12-09 14:00:00
|
13
|
43
|
11.94
|
10.85
|
|
2025-12-09 15:00:00
|
13
|
39
|
10.83
|
8.05
|
|
2025-12-09 16:00:00
|
14
|
35
|
9.72
|
5.77
|
|
2025-12-09 17:00:00
|
12
|
32
|
8.89
|
4.37
|
|
2025-12-09 18:00:00
|
12
|
30
|
8.33
|
3.57
|
|
2025-12-09 19:00:00
|
11
|
30
|
8.33
|
3.57
|
|
2025-12-09 20:00:00
|
11
|
22
|
6.11
|
1.30
|
|
2025-12-09 21:00:00
|
10
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-09 22:00:00
|
10
|
15
|
4.17
|
0.29
|
|
2025-12-09 23:00:00
|
9
|
11
|
3.06
|
0.01
|
|
2025-12-10 00:00:00
|
8
|
11
|
3.06
|
0.01
|
|
2025-12-10 01:00:00
|
9
|
13
|
3.61
|
0.13
|
|
2025-12-10 02:00:00
|
10
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-10 03:00:00
|
9
|
13
|
3.61
|
0.13
|
|
2025-12-10 04:00:00
|
9
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-10 05:00:00
|
9
|
15
|
4.17
|
0.29
|
|
2025-12-10 06:00:00
|
9
|
15
|
4.17
|
0.29
|
|
2025-12-10 07:00:00
|
10
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-10 08:00:00
|
10
|
11
|
3.06
|
0.01
|
|
2025-12-10 09:00:00
|
11
|
9
|
2.50
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-10 10:00:00
|
11
|
24
|
6.67
|
1.74
|
|
2025-12-10 11:00:00
|
12
|
24
|
6.67
|
1.74
|
|
2025-12-10 12:00:00
|
12
|
26
|
7.22
|
2.26
|
|
2025-12-10 13:00:00
|
12
|
30
|
8.33
|
3.57
|
|
2025-12-10 14:00:00
|
12
|
22
|
6.11
|
1.30
|
|
2025-12-10 15:00:00
|
11
|
19
|
5.28
|
0.78
|
|
2025-12-10 16:00:00
|
9
|
13
|
3.61
|
0.13
|
|
2025-12-10 17:00:00
|
9
|
13
|
3.61
|
0.13
|
|
2025-12-10 18:00:00
|
6
|
15
|
4.17
|
0.29
|
|
2025-12-10 19:00:00
|
6
|
13
|
3.61
|
0.13
|
|
2025-12-10 20:00:00
|
6
|
9
|
2.50
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-10 21:00:00
|
5
|
9
|
2.50
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-10 22:00:00
|
5
|
11
|
3.06
|
0.01
|
|
2025-12-10 23:00:00
|
5
|
13
|
3.61
|
0.13
|
|
2025-12-11 00:00:00
|
6
|
11
|
3.06
|
0.01
|
|
2025-12-11 01:00:00
|
5
|
9
|
2.50
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-11 02:00:00
|
6
|
9
|
2.50
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-11 03:00:00
|
6
|
6
|
1.67
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-11 04:00:00
|
6
|
4
|
1.11
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-11 05:00:00
|
7
|
7
|
1.94
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-11 06:00:00
|
7
|
7
|
1.94
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-11 07:00:00
|
7
|
15
|
4.17
|
0.29
|
|
2025-12-11 08:00:00
|
8
|
15
|
4.17
|
0.29
|
|
2025-12-11 09:00:00
|
9
|
11
|
3.06
|
0.01
|
|
2025-12-11 10:00:00
|
10
|
22
|
6.11
|
1.30
|
|
2025-12-11 11:00:00
|
11
|
26
|
7.22
|
2.26
|
|
2025-12-11 12:00:00
|
11
|
26
|
7.22
|
2.26
|
|
2025-12-11 13:00:00
|
10
|
28
|
7.78
|
2.87
|
|
2025-12-11 14:00:00
|
10
|
22
|
6.11
|
1.30
|
|
2025-12-11 15:00:00
|
10
|
19
|
5.28
|
0.78
|
|
2025-12-11 16:00:00
|
9
|
15
|
4.17
|
0.29
|
|
2025-12-11 17:00:00
|
10
|
20
|
5.56
|
0.93
|
|
2025-12-11 18:00:00
|
9
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-11 19:00:00
|
10
|
20
|
5.56
|
0.93
|
|
2025-12-11 20:00:00
|
10
|
20
|
5.56
|
0.93
|
|
2025-12-11 21:00:00
|
10
|
20
|
5.56
|
0.93
|
|
2025-12-11 22:00:00
|
10
|
20
|
5.56
|
0.93
|
|
2025-12-11 23:00:00
|
10
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-12 00:00:00
|
10
|
19
|
5.28
|
0.78
|
|
2025-12-12 01:00:00
|
10
|
20
|
5.56
|
0.93
|
|
2025-12-12 02:00:00
|
10
|
22
|
6.11
|
1.30
|
|
2025-12-12 03:00:00
|
10
|
20
|
5.56
|
0.93
|
|
2025-12-12 04:00:00
|
10
|
15
|
4.17
|
0.29
|
|
2025-12-12 05:00:00
|
10
|
19
|
5.28
|
0.78
|
|
2025-12-12 06:00:00
|
10
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-12 07:00:00
|
10
|
20
|
5.56
|
0.93
|
|
2025-12-12 08:00:00
|
10
|
20
|
5.56
|
0.93
|
|
2025-12-12 09:00:00
|
11
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-12 10:00:00
|
11
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-12 11:00:00
|
10
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-12 12:00:00
|
9
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-12 13:00:00
|
9
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-12 14:00:00
|
9
|
22
|
6.11
|
1.30
|
|
2025-12-12 15:00:00
|
8
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-12 16:00:00
|
7
|
15
|
4.17
|
0.29
|
|
2025-12-12 17:00:00
|
6
|
9
|
2.50
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-12 18:00:00
|
6
|
9
|
2.50
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-12 19:00:00
|
5
|
6
|
1.67
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-12 20:00:00
|
5
|
9
|
2.50
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-12 21:00:00
|
5
|
6
|
1.67
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-12 22:00:00
|
5
|
7
|
1.94
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-12 23:00:00
|
5
|
4
|
1.11
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-13 00:00:00
|
5
|
6
|
1.67
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-13 01:00:00
|
4
|
6
|
1.67
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-13 02:00:00
|
4
|
6
|
1.67
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-13 03:00:00
|
3
|
2
|
0.56
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-13 04:00:00
|
3
|
6
|
1.67
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-13 05:00:00
|
3
|
4
|
1.11
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-13 06:00:00
|
2
|
4
|
1.11
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-13 07:00:00
|
2
|
4
|
1.11
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-13 08:00:00
|
1
|
7
|
1.94
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-13 09:00:00
|
1
|
6
|
1.67
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-13 10:00:00
|
4
|
7
|
1.94
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-13 11:00:00
|
6
|
7
|
1.94
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-13 12:00:00
|
8
|
15
|
4.17
|
0.29
|
|
2025-12-13 13:00:00
|
9
|
13
|
3.61
|
0.13
|
|
2025-12-13 14:00:00
|
10
|
15
|
4.17
|
0.29
|
|
2025-12-13 15:00:00
|
9
|
7
|
1.94
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-13 16:00:00
|
7
|
9
|
2.50
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-13 17:00:00
|
7
|
11
|
3.06
|
0.01
|
|
2025-12-13 18:00:00
|
6
|
6
|
1.67
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-13 19:00:00
|
5
|
9
|
2.50
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-13 20:00:00
|
5
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-13 21:00:00
|
5
|
17
|
4.72
|
0.51
|
|
2025-12-13 22:00:00
|
6
|
19
|
5.28
|
0.78
|
|
2025-12-13 23:00:00
|
5
|
9
|
2.50
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-14 00:00:00
|
4
|
7
|
1.94
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-14 01:00:00
|
5
|
15
|
4.17
|
0.29
|
|
2025-12-14 02:00:00
|
4
|
6
|
1.67
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-14 03:00:00
|
6
|
6
|
1.67
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-14 04:00:00
|
5
|
6
|
1.67
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-14 05:00:00
|
5
|
11
|
3.06
|
0.01
|
|
2025-12-14 06:00:00
|
5
|
6
|
1.67
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-14 07:00:00
|
6
|
19
|
5.28
|
0.78
|
|
2025-12-14 08:00:00
|
6
|
6
|
1.67
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-14 09:00:00
|
7
|
6
|
1.67
|
0.00
|
|
2025-12-14 10:00:00
|
9
|
20
|
5.56
|
0.93
|
|
2025-12-14 11:00:00
|
10
|
24
|
6.67
|
1.74
|
|
2025-12-14 12:00:00
|
11
|
30
|
8.33
|
3.57
|
|
2025-12-14 13:00:00
|
10
|
30
|
8.33
|
3.57
|
|
2025-12-14 14:00:00
|
10
|
28
|
7.78
|
2.87
|
|
2025-12-14 15:00:00
|
10
|
19
|
5.28
|
0.78
|
|
2025-12-14 16:00:00
|
10
|
22
|
6.11
|
1.30
|
|
2025-12-14 17:00:00
|
10
|
19
|
5.28
|
0.78
|
|
2025-12-14 18:00:00
|
10
|
22
|
6.11
|
1.30
|
|
2025-12-14 19:00:00
|
10
|
24
|
6.67
|
1.74
|
|
2025-12-14 20:00:00
|
11
|
28
|
7.78
|
2.87
|
|
2025-12-14 21:00:00
|
11
|
28
|
7.78
|
2.87
|
|
2025-12-14 22:00:00
|
11
|
28
|
7.78
|
2.87
|
|
2025-12-14 23:00:00
|
11
|
26
|
7.22
|
2.26
|
