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Welcome to the

VENJ Turbine Repowering

Consultation Hub

CONSULTATION

Welcome to the consultation page for the Viking Energy Network Jarrow (VENJ) wind turbine.

What are we building?

We will be building a wind turbine to provide a vital winter energy source for VENJ. This will save the council £11 million over the next 35 years.

What does this mean for me?

If you are a resident or visitor to Jarrow, you're part of an innovative, carbon-saving council taking real steps towards climate change. This development is designed with the community in mind and will not cause significant disruption to daily life. You can expect improvements that support sustainability without compromising your everyday routine.

FAQs

Will it be noisy?

No, the wind turbine will not be noisy for residents. Detailed assessments will be undertaken to ensure noise levels remain within strict noise standards.

What will it look like?

The turbine will be slightly taller than the one already there (19m taller). We’ve produced the photo below to provide an indication of what it will look like.

Will it be dangerous for birds and bats?

No, the turbine will not pose a risk to birds and bats. Extensive bird surveys have been conducted, along with targeted bat surveys carried out from May to September.

What happens in extreme weather?

The turbine is designed to automatically shut down during very high wind speeds. This is a standard safety feature and ensures it poses no danger to people or property.

Will construction impact traffic?

The turbine will be transported outside of peak traffic times, with transportation specialists managing the process to avoid disruption. The turbine itself will be built in just two days with other preparatory works taking place over the six weeks beforehand.

Why Here?

The location of the wind turbine is on the VENJ site and will provide a direct connection to the energy centre. The existing turbine is not part of VENJ, this turbine will be removed and replaced with the proposed VENJ turbine.

Who's going to benefit?

The new wind turbine will provide an energy source during the winter months, helping South Tyneside Council cut electricity costs. Over the next 35 years, it’s expected to save around £11 million.

Right now, VENJ’s water source heat pump is supported by solar panels, which are most effective during the summer. However, in the colder winter months, when the heat pump is needed most, the solar doesn’t meet the system’s energy demands. The wind turbine will step in to fill the winter energy gap, allowing VENJ to run efficiently throughout the year.

These savings don’t just benefit the council, they benefit the whole community. The money saved can be reinvested into vital local services such as:

  • Maintaining and improving public roads
  • Upgrading public buildings like schools, libraries, and healthcare centres
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Timeline

The full planning application has now been submitted.

WHO'S INVOLVED?

Cogeo Planning & Environmental Services Ltd.

Completing the planning and environmental assessments.

South Tyneside Council

The Asset Management Services (AMS) team are leading the project to allow for greater efficiency in the portfolio

What is VENJ?

VENJ is a pioneering low-carbon energy project developed by South Tyneside Council, combining several innovative energy technologies to provide sustainable heat and energy to council and community buildings.

The water source heat pump at VENJ draws renewable heat directly from the River Tyne. The system is supported by;

  • A 1MW ground-mounted solar farm
  • Battery storage units
  • A Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit

The system is the first of its kind in the UK, operating on a model that significantly reduces the region’s carbon footprint.

Power and heat generated by the VENJ energy centre are distributed to key buildings and facilities across the Jarrow area. These include:

  • Jarrow Focus Leisure Centre
  • 3x residential tower blocks
  • Jarrow Business Centre
  • Jarrow Town Hall
  • Schools, council offices, care homes and sheltered housing
  • NHS properties

Through this integrated system, South Tyneside Council is not only reducing carbon emissions but also lowering energy bills across its property portfolio — delivering both environmental and financial benefits to the community.

GALLERY

    laigh park map

    Interactive Map

    An interactive map viewable through the below link highlights the location of the site and proposed components, including the anticipated access route to the site.
    View Map

    Project Documents

    Location Plan
    		Location Plan
    Turbine and Substation Elevations
    		Turbine and Substation Elevations
    Site Plan
    		Site Plan

    Want to learn more?

    For those interested in the repowering process and the VENJ project, the following links are a great place to start

    We Want to Hear from You!

    We value your input. Whether you have questions, concerns, or simply want to find out more, we’d really appreciate your thoughts.

    Thank you for taking the time to read this webpage, we hope to hear from you soon.

    ENQUIRY FORM

    This consultation is about keeping our neighbours informed and involved. If you have any questions, feedback or comments about the proposal, we’d love to hear from you, please complete this form. The Project Team will track these comments throughout and provide a response where required.

    Thank you again for your interest in the project.

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    By completing this form you are agreeing that we can hold and process your personal data in relation to this consultation exercise.

    • We will only share your personal data with the planning team for planning evaluation purposes only.
    • Your identifiable, personal data will not be used for any other purposes without your consent.