PLANS for the East Riding's biggest wind farm look set to be recommended for approval for a site near Goole.
Energy company RWE Npower Renewables Ltd has already constructed 16 turbines at Goole Fields. It now wants to add a further 17 wind turbines, taking the total to 33.
East Riding planning councillors will be advised to give the go-ahead next Thursday, subject to certain conditions being met.
The 126.5m turbines would be visible to nearby towns and villages, as well as to road users on the M62, A161 and M18 but planners say the effect is considered acceptable.
Alan Menzies, East Riding Council's director of planning and economic regeneration, says in a report to go before councillors: "While the proposal will inevitably impact on local landscape character and have an adverse impact on visual amenity from specific short to medium-range views, it is considered the landscape has a level of capacity to accommodate this scale of wind farm development.
"It is considered the effect of the development, both in isolation and cumulatively with other operational, under construction and consented schemes, is acceptable."
Objections have come from conservation groups including Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and the RSPB.
Swinefleet Parish Council has also objected, saying there are too many wind farms in the area.
But 250 letters of support of the application have also been lodged.
Chris Gainey, of RWE Innogy UK, told the Mail: "If Goole Fields II Wind Farm is granted planning consent, it could generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of about 21,300 average UK households each year, making an important contribution to tackling climate change and securing the UK's energy supply.
"We would be committed to acting swiftly in reaching agreement with the council on the planning obligations so community investment funding worth about £3.4m over the life of the wind farm would become available as soon as possible, the final sum being subject to the installed capacity of the scheme."
Mr Gainey welcomed the recommendation to approve the latest plans, subject to the conditions being met.
He said: "This recommendation reflects the extensive studies we have completed at the site together with our consultation with the community and other key stakeholders; all of which has helped us produce a wind farm proposal we believe is right for the area."
The first phase of 16 turbines is likely to be operational by the end of this summer.
Two of the turbines have been operational since last summer.
Construction of the second phase of 17 turbines, on the site southwest of White House Farm, Swinefleet Road, would take 12 months.
The two phases would be next to each other, to give the appearance of one wind farm.
The turbines are in a linear arrangement, following consultation and feedback with residents and groups in the area.
The approach to the site for wind turbine components would be taken directly from the M62, or from Goole Docks onto the A161, Bridge Street and onto Swinefleet Road.
A new site entrance would be taken directly from the A161 on the east side of Old Goole.
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