A PROPOSED wind farm will comprise ten turbines up to 110m high and a monitoring mast, plans have revealed.

Banks Developments have submitted an application to build the farm on land to the north-east of Barmpton, near Darlington, following a long consultation process.

The County Durham-based company first announced its intentions to build up to ten turbines on the farmland at Moor House in July 2008.

It has spent more than a year drawing up its plans and holding a series of public consultation events with villagers, councillors and other groups.

Discussions have been held with statutory consultees as well as representatives from Durham Tees Valley Airport.

Although discussions are still ongoing with the nearby airport, the application includes reports about the lack of impact on radar and other systems.

The farm will include four turbines of 110m height and six at 100m height. There will also be a mast to monitor wind speeds and the effectiveness of the farm.

Access roads, crane points, a control building and temporary construction cabin are also planned.

The application stated that the farm would produce enough energy for a quarter of the town's homes - equivalent to 11,000 to 14,000.

It also includes reports on noise, shadow flicker, transport impact and other concerns raised.

Rob Williams, renewables projects director at Banks, said: "It is vitally important that wind farms, like we are proposing at Moor House, go ahead.

"There is a pressing need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, which we currently rely on to generate over three quarters of the electricity we use."

Since the plans emerged last year, they have caused concern in the nearby villages to the north-east of Darlington. Banks' bid is one of just three in the area.

Millie Scaife, chairman of Sadberge Parish Council, said the parish council's and the villagers' views had not changed and the plans would be discussed at an open meeting as soon as possible.

Borough councillor for the Sadberge ward Brian Jones said: "I am still against putting so many turbines in such a small area. They will be a blot on the landscape in a scenic area.

"I am still not convinced they will produce anything worth while bothering about."

A local opposition group Seven Parishes Action Group has also been formed. It is critical of the number of turbines which could be built in the area.