AFTER almost eight years of planning, work has finally begun to re-power a windfarm which could quadruple the site's electricity production. 

Furness Wind Farm, which will be spread across two sites, will be completed by the end of March, after work began in December. 

The development intends to replace the existing Harlock Hill Wind Farm, near Ulverston, which has been owned and operated by the community-based Baywind Energy Co-operative since 1997. 

The new windfarm is a partnership project with wind developers Infinergy.

In addition to replacing the existing turbines, the site has been extended to include an area of land adjacent to the existing windfarm, known as Mean Moor. 

The windfarm will replace five existing turbines with five new, more powerful ones as the old ones have reached the end of their lifespan. 

The wind turbines will be 99.5 metres high each and capable of producing 2.3mw of power. 

Three of the turbines will be on Mean Moor and two will be on Harlock Hill. 

Marlies Koutstaal of Infinergy said: “The project’s construction is now well under way. 

At two of the turbine locations, concrete has been poured in order to construct the foundations for the turbine towers. 

"Pouring for the remaining three foundations is in preparation and will take place shortly.”

The re-powering was originally accepted by Barrow Borough Council’s planning committee in 2013, but South Lakeland District Council, the other local authority with a say in the decision, rejected the application. 

Plans were eventually approved the following year when the Planning Inspectorate ruled in favour of Baywind Energy and their partners Infinergy. 

Nobody was available from Baywind to comment today but at the time the application was passed, Baywind chairman David Eastlick said: "This is excellent news for local investment, local jobs, the local community and an outright victory for community energy nationwide.”