Locals say 'Cornwall is being ruined' as 100m wind turbines are set for Helland

Councillors from 38 parishes have been invited to discuss the proposed wind farm of 330ft tall 'industrial megastructures on prime agricultural fields'

CornwallLive readers are reacting to proposals for an 'industrial scale' wind farm near Helland Barton Farm, after concerns have been raised across neighbouring parishes. The scheme, close to Bodmin, would include seven turbines up to around 100 metres tall across a 175 hectare site, with early plans suggesting wide visibility across large parts of Cornwall.

Helland Parish Council has invited representatives from 38 nearby parishes to consider the potential impact on the rural landscape, with the village described as historically agricultural since the Domesday Book.

Chair Orlando Kimber said while renewables are important, large developments on farmland need careful scrutiny, warning the land may not easily return to agriculture once developed.

Cornwall Council is still to receive a full planning application following an initial scoping request. Concerns have also been raised about landscape impact, dark skies, and visibility of turbine lighting. Blisland Parish Council and others have flagged worries over environmental effects, while the Ministry of Defence has asked for more information on potential impacts to aviation and defence sites.

Commenter Supernova! says: “There are several reasons why this is being opposed. Some argue that weather dependent energy is not reliable for Cornwall, pointing to gridwatch data showing wind can sometimes contribute very little to the grid. Others raise concerns about the visual impact, saying it could permanently change the landscape and affect natural views like sunrises and sunsets.”

There are also worries about wildlife, given already declining species numbers in the UK. Critics add that larger turbines are often seen as the main way to boost efficiency, and suggest alternatives like small modular reactors, which they claim could provide steady power, use less land, and support more local jobs and industry compared to wind projects.”

RickOshay writes: “People seem to be in favour of renewable energy as long as it’s not generated anywhere near where they live. That’s the ongoing dilemma for most homeowners in the country, unfortunately we need more renewable energy as the action of Trump in Iran has illustrated.”

Phil R agrees: “I want cheap power, but I don't want the means of getting it anywhere I can see it!”

Jlhm wonders: “If the Government is already paying wind farms in Cornwall to switch off when the local grid is close to capacity, known as curtailment or constraint payments, to prevent overload, it raises questions about the sense in adding more capacity that may not be usable.”

Johnnyringo points out: “We have loads of oil under the North Sea where Norway drills, and nuclear has never been so cheap and safe.”

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Mick6161 agrees: “How much has already been spent on net zero policies? Nuclear is expensive to build, especially big projects like Hinkley Point, but once it’s running it gives steady, reliable long term energy for large parts of the country. It’s also extremely energy dense compared to fossil fuels, while renewables need a lot of land to produce much less power in comparison. Rather than spending so much on renewables, more of that investment should have gone into developing nuclear energy instead.”

Robin W is in favour: “Wind turbines can work in conjunction with agriculture. Crops can be grown around them or the land can be grazed. Unlike the solar farms.”

Rosy S says: “This one is tiny compared to the ones being built in the Highlands in Scotland, which are more than double the height and honestly look awful. A lot of it is being driven by demand for American data centres for AI and cryptocurrency, which is worrying when you think about the energy and water needed to cool them. Our lakes and rivers are already under enough pressure as it is.”

Steve G retorts: “The Highlands turbines aren’t being built specifically to power American data centres. They’re being developed because Scotland exports large amounts of electricity and has some of the strongest wind resources in Europe. The idea about heavy water use is also misleading. Wind farms don’t use water at all, and most modern UK data centres rely mainly on air cooling rather than water systems, which are tightly regulated anyway with strict licensing and environmental controls.”

Val I thinks: "Cornwall is being ruined by these."