There are concerns that a plan to replace a wind turbine with one that’s twice as big will impact a protected 18th-century mansion and be a “blot on the landscape”.

An application on behalf of Devon and Cornwall Logs Ltd to repower an existing wind turbine with a replacement at Lidcott, Laneast, Launceston will be decided at a Cornwall Council planning meeting on September 1.

Local member Cllr Adam Paynter has brought the matter to committee due to concerns about the visual impact of the larger turbine and its significance to listed properties in the area, including Tregeare House, which was built in 1790. The council’s planning department has recommended approval.

The new turbine would have a tower of up to 84 metres with a blade tip height of 115 metres. The current turbine has a hub height of 37 metres and a tip height of 50 metres. The proposal also sees the replacement of an existing substation and transformer housing.

If approved, the turbine would operate for a maximum of 40 years and would produce approximately 2,483 MWh of energy per year, resulting in approximately 435 tonnes of CO2 being saved additionally per annum.

Council planners have said that a turbine of the scale proposed would “inevitably give rise to adverse effects on the landscape, by virtue of its height and movement alone”. However, they note that the “significant renewable energy generation which the proposed development would make to address the climate emergency would, on balance, outweigh the harm caused”.

Laneast Parish Council voted against the proposal, stating: “Although we are not opposed to wind farms in general we cannot agree to this current application. The very height of the turbine must mean that it will be more of an intrusion into the lives of more people in the area and could be considered a blot to the landscape.

“Obviously if the planning application had indicated a re-powering using a smaller maximum height then our decision might have been different. As the new turbine is so much bigger than the one it will be replacing the impact on the health and safety to persons passing the windfarm or situated at home through shadow flicker and/or noise has not been addressed or assessed thoroughly.”

There is no objection from Natural England, but Historic Environment Planning concluded that the proposal would result in harm to the setting of the designated heritage asset, Tregeare House.

However, members of the public have made their feelings known, with 16 out of the 18 comments on the application objecting to the plans.

One commenter said: “Tregeare House, a Grade II listed building dating back to the 1700s, is a heritage property that has enjoyed beautiful views over a landscape that has remained unchanged for centuries. I implore Cornwall Council to review this application taking into consideration the severe impact that this will have on the legacy of the property.”

Another added: “I wish the planning committee to carefully consider at what point do they limit the proliferation of large turbines in this area, it cannot be limitless. The blight on the landscape, noise, environmental concerns and negative impact on neighbouring properties are paramount, aside from the inevitable collateral damage arising from the logistics of construction.”

However, some have seen the positives in the project, arguing that investment in renewable energy is something to be commended

“The applicant runs a sustainable kiln dried firewood business. This is of great benefit to local residents, without central heating, such as myself,” the commenter said. “The fact that they are investing in renewable energy to power this operation is to be commended. North Cornwall does indeed have a number of turbines – this is simply because we do have significant wind power available, which we should be harnessing.”