Wind Power to people

Wind farm applications to be subject to Local Resident approval

Communities Secretary, Greg Clarke, has announced that local residents will get the final say over onshore wind farm applications in their area.

Although onshore wind makes a meaningful contribution to Britain’s energy mix, communities don’t always back the projects, particularly when no consultation of the public has been carried out.

New planning rules announced today will mean that wind turbines should only be progressed if they are clearly backed in a Local or Neighbourhood Plan and any planning concerns from the local community are clearly addressed.

These reforms will bring power to the people, enabling them to have greater say in the future of their local neighbourhood through Local and Neighbourhood Plans.

Council’s now need to apply the following new rules before granting permission to wind turbines in their area:

• the site is in an area identified as suitable for wind energy as part of a Local or Neighbourhood Plan; and
• following consultation, the planning impacts identified by affected local communities have been fully addressed and therefore has their backing

If a planning application has already been made for wind turbines in an area where the local plan does not identify suitable sites, the council will only be able to approve the application where it addresses the planning concerns of the affected community and therefore has local backing.

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Greg Clark said: “Our One Nation approach is about backing people on the issues that really matter to them and we are today delivering on our manifesto commitment to give local people the final say over onshore wind farm applications.”

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