PLANS to build a 78-metre wind turbine have been submitted to Selby District Council.

The scheme has been proposed by Constant Energy Ltd and would be built on open farmland just outside Cliffe, near Selby.

A report going before the planning committee said: “Investment will allow the business to expand and create jobs within the local area”.

It claims the turbine would generate more than 1,500,000 kwh a year, creating a sustainable electricity source for the farmstead and reducing its carbon footprint.

Members of Cliffe Parish Council said they were unaware of the planning application, but a spokeswoman said they would be discussed at their next meeting on January 7.

Developers said the proposed turbine would not emit the whirring noise associated with some wind farm developments, and would be far enough from neighbouring properties that any noise would not be audible over the rustling of trees.

Details of the plans have been sent to almost 20 villagers as well as airfields in Sherburn-in-Elmet, Breighton, Burn, Church Fenton and Cliffe.

Chris Cooper, from Burn Gliding Club, said: “It is approximately in line with our main runway, however it is sufficiently far from Burn Airfield so as not to present any significant safety issues for gliders, apart from reducing slightly the options for emergency landing.”