PLANS for a wind farm on agricultural land near Charminster have been submitted.

Broadview Energy Limited has been holding a series of public engagement events prior to submitting its application for six turbines, measuring 115m in height, at Slyer’s Lane.

The application to West Dorset District Council also seeks permission for associated infrastructure, including access tracks and underground electrical cabling.

The project was first announced in June last year and Broadview says it has since carried out a range of ‘extensive’ environmental and technical studies as well as consulting with statutory bodies and the local community before finalising its plans.

The planning application is accompanied by an environmental statement produced by independent experts that sets out details of how the project will interact with the existing environment and includes more than 30 visualisations of how the wind farm will appear in the local landscape.

Broadview has also provided details of its proposed community benefit fund, which will see at least £1.5million made available to the community over the wind farm’s 25-year life.

John Leith, Broadview’s project manager, said: “We have been working closely with local residents and if the project is granted consent there will be a significant community benefit fund as well as an opportunity for people to invest in the wind farm themselves.

“We would like to thank the residents of West Dorset for taking the time to meet with us and discuss the plans and would encourage anyone who is in support of the wind farm to send their comments to WDDC.”

Since the proposed wind farm became public, both an opposition group and support group have been set up by local residents.

Tim Yarker, from the No Slyer’s Lanes Turbines group, said that they would be ‘mobilising our supporters and like-minded people’ to make sure they take the opportunity to comment on the plans when the opportunity arises.

Broadview claims the project will generate enough renewable energy to meet the needs of over 8,000 average UK homes.

Mr Yarker said: “We are pro- renewable energy; our only objection to this application is that it is an inappropriate industrial building in the wrong place and it will do significant damage to the landscape amenity around the surrounds of Dorchester and the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the setting of significant heritage sites such as Maiden Castle.”

Once it has been logged the application will be available to view at dorsetforyou.com as well as at West Dorset District Council’s offices at South Walks House in Dorchester.

Hard copies are also being made available through Charminster and Stinsford parish councils, with residents able to contact their parish clerk to arrange a viewing.