National Trust (Renewable Energy) Limited has applied to the Environment Agency for a licence to abstract and impound water in Cumbria for a new hydropower scheme.

The application is for a full licence to abstract water from the Hayeswater Gill at Hayeswater, Hartsop, Cumbria etween 1 April and 31 March inclusive in each year as follows:

• 720 cubic metres an hour
• 17,280 cubic metres a day
• 3,801,600 cubic metres a year

The water will be used for hydro-electric power generation via a Pelton turbine. All the water abstracted will be returned to the Hayeswater Gill.

National Trust (Renewable Energy) Limited has also applied to the Environment Agency for a licence to obstruct or impede the flow of the Hayeswater Gill at at the abstraction point.

The object of impounding water by means of the works is to create an intake to effect the abstraction of water, to control the rate of abstraction and to protect a minimum flow in the source below the abstraction point.