New rules will give power to the people on wind farm decisions

The Government today announced new guidance that will mean local residents’ concerns will take precedence over the need for renewable energy when councils are making decisions on applications for turbines in their wards.

More weight will also be given to the impact of turbines on the landscape and heritage.

Supporters said the announcement was long overdue, and would finally take power away from planning inspectors.

But plans to also increase the amount of money communities will receive for agreeing to host wind farms nearby were branded as “bribery” by environmental campaigners.

David Rose, regional chairman of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, told the Yorkshire Post: “It’s a form of bribery to try and ameliorate the blight on the landscape of these industrial structures.

“In order to get more of these turbines approved, the Government are hoping some communities will agree to wind farms if they are going to get enough subsidies.”

The new measures will mean a fivefold increase in what developers are expected to pay residents for allowing new wind turbines in their local area, up from £1,000 per megawatt of installed power to £5,000.

A community agreeing to a medium-sized 20-megawatt wind farm that might involve around 10 turbines would receive a package of benefits worth £100,000 a year or see up to £400 cut from each household’s bill.

Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary Ed Davey was berated by Tory backbenchers earlier this year over the Government’s support for the wind industry, amid claims that communities across Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire were being “bullied” by wind farm developers.

Today Mr Davey said: “It is important that onshore wind is developed in a way that is truly sustainable – economically, environmentally and socially, and 
today’s announcement will ensure that communities see the windfall from hosting developments near to them, not just the wind farm.

“We remain committed to the deployment of appropriately sited onshore wind, as a key part of a diverse, low-carbon and secure energy mix and committed to an evidence-based approach to supporting low carbon power.”

The new rules will mean developers proposing more significant onshore wind schemes will be required to consult local communities before submitting an application. Developers will also be expected to meet higher standards in relation to engaging with local communities.

Conservative MP Greg Knight, whose East Yorkshire constituency has seen a string of wind farm applications in recent years, said he warmly welcomed the announcement.

He said: “It’s long overdue but essentially this will mean that if 
a local council says no, it means no. It will give communities the power to make their own decisions.

“Far too often in the past, we’ve had the local council say no to a wind farm, only to have the decision overturned on appeal by a planning inspector with no knowledge of the area.”

More than 4,000 turbines are in operation across the country, with almost 6,000 under or awaiting construction or in the planning system.

Maria McCaffery, chief executive of industry body RenewableUK, said: “Developing wind farms requires a significant amount of investment to be made upfront.

“Adding to this cost, by following the Government’s advice that we should pay substantially more into community funds for future projects, will unfortunately make some planned wind energy developments uneconomic in England, so they will not go ahead and that is very disappointing.”