Communities to get greater say in wind farm and turbines planning applications

Shropshire residents are set to have a greater say in whether wind farms or wind turbines are built in their area. 

In a letter to Shropshire Council Leader Keith Barrow, Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, sets out his intentions to issue new planning guidance to councils on dealing with applications for onshore wind farm and wind turbines – saying that he hopes these reforms will give a greater say for local people and strengthen the role of councils in shaping where development should and shouldn’t go. 

In his letter he acknowledges that wind farm proposals can be unwelcome to local communities, and that many are being hard fought through the planning system. 

He says:

“We need to ensure decisions do get the environmental balance right in line with the [National Planning Policy] Framework and, as expected by the Framework, any adverse impact from a wind farm development is addressed satisfactorily. 

“We have set out clearly in the Framework the importance of early and meaningful engagement with local communities. 

“We will also amend secondary legislation to make pre-application consultation with local communities compulsory for the more significant onshore wind applications.  This will ensure that community engagement takes place at an earlier stage in more cases, and may assist in improving the quality of proposed onshore wind development. 

“We are looking to local councils to include in their local plans, policies which ensure that adverse impacts from wind farms developments are addressed satisfactorily.” 

Mal Price, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for strategic planning, planning and housing, said:

“As with any planning application, an application for a wind farm or wind turbine will be considered on its merits, taking into account responses received during the statutory consultation period, and in line with national and local planning policy. 

“However, the recent statement by the Government about this new guidance is welcomed, and will help Shropshire Council to resist proposals which would cause unacceptable impacts on neighbours and the highly-valued environment and heritage features which are so important both to local residents and our tourist economy. 

“The council has already started drafting a policy approach as part of the preparation of the Site Allocations and Management of Development Plan (SAMDev) plan.  This approach anticipates the Government’s new guidance, and will require early engagement by developers with the local community and the provision of enough information to assess a range of potential impacts, including cumulative impacts, on neighbours, telecommunications, aircraft safety and the wider environment. 

“We will therefore look to review our draft (SAMDev) policies in the context of the forthcoming Government guidance when it is published.” 

Further information 

Eric Pickles’ letter draws attention to his written ministerial statement laid before Parliament on 6 June 2013 on local planning and onshore wind. 

In his statement he says that too many wind farm decisions are being decided by planning inspectors on appeal, sidelining local people and councils. 

He says that the Government’s package of reforms will “end speculative proposals: communities will be consulted much earlier in the process: community benefit will be greatly increased, and unacceptable practices by developers will not be tolerated”, and that “improved planning practice guidance will assist local councils and planning inspectors across England”.