Wind farm fund powers community projects

A County Durham village has marked a milestone in community investment as funding linked to a local renewable energy project continues to support grassroots initiatives.

Two projects in Bishopton, near Darlington, have received a combined £14,000 from the community benefits fund associated with Lambs Hill Wind Farm, taking total funding awarded to village groups over the past eight years beyond £100,000.

The fund, linked to Sunderland-headquartered OnPath Energy’s Lambs Hill Wind Farm, awarded £7000 to Bishopton Village Hall Association to support refurbishment works at the much-used community building. 

The latest improvements focus on boosting energy efficiency and upgrading facilities, including new insulation and modernised kitchen equipment, helping to secure the hall’s long-term future.

A further £7000 grant to Bishopton Parish Council has funded the installation of two new defibrillators, significantly improving emergency coverage across the village and at a busy nearby road junction. 

With earlier support from the fund, residents are now within 300 metres of a lifesaving device.

Since the wind farm began generating electricity in 2017, the fund has backed a wide range of local projects, from playground equipment and village green improvements to school facilities and festive lighting.

The Lambs Hill community fund supports eligible projects across several nearby villages, helping ensure the benefits of renewable energy investment are felt locally.

Tom Chaplin, partnership and community manager at OnPath Energy, said: “The community benefits funds linked to all our wind farms are continuing to build long-term community value in the places in which they’re located and it’s brilliant to see how this objective has been realised in Bishopton with the help of some very dedicated local people.

“The Bishopton Village Hall Association has taken a far-sighted approach to safeguarding the sustainability of their invaluable community venue and has helped to improve what it offers to local people in lots of different ways.

“Bishopton Parish Council has acted on a growing need among both local residents and people passing through the area for urgent access to medical equipment which could save lives in an emergency that might otherwise be lost.

“We’re very pleased to be backing these latest Bishopton projects and thrilled to see the total value of our support for the village going past the £100,000 mark.”

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