New electric turbine for River Calder

The plans to build the structure in Greenwood Weir off Steanard Lane were submitted last November by Yorkshire Hydropower Limited, and were given the green light by Kirklees Council planning chiefs.

The turbine, which will be two metres in diameter, is expected to cost around £900,000 and would produce 550,000 units of electricity per year, enough to power between 150 and 180 homes.

Brewery Greene King, which owns the land and the neighbouring Ship Inn pub, has given the go ahead for the project.

At a meeting of Mirfield Town Council earlier this year, Mark Simon, director of Yorkshire Hydropower Limited, said: “Making sure this is done right is hard, as we don’t want anyone messing with our rivers without very good reason – but I am confident we can get up and running.”

“At the end of this we will have something that will take a small part of Mirfield out of the grid forever.”

He added the turbine would be underground and generate minimal noise.