July 2024
The project is to establish a small hydroelectric generating scheme on Mill Beck in Buttermere. Planning has been underway for several years. The scheme has been approved by the Environment Agency to abstract water within carefully specified limits; planning consent has been granted by the Lake District Planning Authority subject to various conditions related to the site; and consent has also been granted for works on Common Land, by the Planning Inspectorate.
In parallel with these permissions, we have been working with our solicitor and our landowners to establish legal agreements for the works. This work is still underway with some challenges still to be resolved, but the intention is to start work in 2025.
The scheme is being managed by a group that grew out of the Melbreak Communities and is now incorporated separately as a Cooperative Benefit Society: Melbreak Community Energy Limited. This is necessary in order to manage the next stage of the work, raise share capital and fund the construction.
If you’d like to know more please contact Aine Kelly at akc.kelly@gmail.com, or Derek Poate at cdpoate@gmail.com
Derek Poat – July 2024
The Melbreak Communities 