PLANS to turn land at a Cheshire West quarry into a testing ground for the offshore wind industry have been temporarily shelved.

Danish green energy company Orsted had submitted proposals to Cheshire West and Chester’s planning committee for a piling test site for research and development, for a temporary period of up to 12 months, at Crown Farm Quarry on Stoneyford Lane in Oakmere.

Crown Farm Quarry is a sand and gravel quarry operated by Tarmac, which opened in 1989. The application site covers an 18 acre area inside the quarry which had been restored to grassland.   

Once up and running, the company would have used it to test piles – pieces of steel which are inserted into the seabed to keep offshore turbines stable. 

A design and access statement submitted in support of the application by consultancy The Environment Partnership, said the piles would be driven into the ground using a combination of vibratory hammers and heavy hydraulic impact hammers suspended from a crawler mounted crane. Some of the piles would be installed using vibratory methods only.

Once the piles had been installed, the phase of testing would commence which would involve loads being applied to the piles to test their response.

The statement said piling equipment would arrive from nominated specialist plant hire companies, comprising of a large crane, piling hammers and generators on HGVs. It said the anticipated maximum peak daily HGV movements would be 10 (10 in, 10 out). After the 12 months had elapsed, the plan was to return the site to its original condition.

However, the whole scheme looks to have been placed on ice for the time being.

A recent email on behalf of the applicant to Cheshire West and Chester’s planning department, said: "As per the attached email sent yesterday, can I please formally withdraw the planning application.

"There has been a contractual change which we need to address before proceeding."