Published 30 March 2012 | Standard notes SN04370
Authors:
Christopher Barclay
Topic:
Planning, Renewable energy
• Wind farms require either planning permission or consent under the Planning Act 2008. This note discusses why so many applications for onshore wind farms have been rejected, and whether the system is resulting in unacceptable delays. Closely related notes are Wind Farms - Distance from housing (SN/SC/5221) and Wind Farm consents - offshore (SN/SC/5088) which includes details of the provisions of the Planning Act 2008 relating to offshore and onshore consents.
• Nearly half of applications for onshore wind farms were rejected before and after the General Election. The main reason was concern that a large wind farm would damage the landscape.
• Some applications have been approved, partly because their visual impact was normally considered to be limited.
• The Localism Act 2011 is abolishing Regional Spatial Strategies, including regional targets for renewable energy. It will also introduce a neighbourhood planning regime. It is unlikely that neighbourhood plans could be used to prevent the building of wind farms.
• DCLG intend to allow local authorities to retain more business rates from allowing development, including wind farms. This is expected to come into force in April 2013.
On 27 March 2012, DCLG published the final version of the National Planning Policy Framework. It came into effect immediately, superseding the 2011 draft and other planning guidance. It is much shorter than previous guidance and it is unclear what effect it might have on the applications for consent for wind farms.