Wind Farm Developments Practice Guidance Note

Practice Guidance Note                                   

Local Councils and Applications for Wind Farm Developments

1.           Summary

2.    Resolution 10 (i) from the 8 November, 2011 NALC Policy Committee meeting stated that the following motion from the Buckinghamshire Association of Local Councils (BALC) ([The Buckinghamshire Association of Local Councils requests that] NALC advise first-tier authorities how to respond to / what to consider when responding to planning applications for wind farms and also for the test masts), should be adopted as national policy.  As part of the same resolution it was agreed that a Practice Guidance Note (PGN) be issued on the subject, further to consultation with relevant local council sector colleagues.  

3.          This matter was adopted by the Policy Committee as a formal motion as wind farms (as in counties like Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire) are a controversial subject and the Association feels that better guidance needs to be provided to local councils and principal authorities in terms of responding to applications to build them. Land use planning policy germaine to wind farms is currently in the remit of district councils and though there is a burgeoning number (nationally) of applications to build wind-farms in parished areas, local councils are requesting further guidance about how to liaise with principal authorities when such applications are made (as well as for test masts).    

4.          Lincolnshire County Council have produced a draft policy statement stating how it thinks local councils and principal authorities in the area should be working together to create common ground in terms of knowing how to respond to applications to build wind farms.  A copy of this guidance is available from the National Association’s office on request.  Lincolnshire County Council wish to move towards consistency in terms of its response to the Infrastructure Planning Commission and other local consultations on wind farms and their test masts.  County Councils (like local councils) are not statutory consultees in terms of planning applications for wind farms and their test masts (as this remit rests with District Councils).  So the likelihood is that County Councils such as Lincolnshire probably want to engage with relevant local councils affected by wind farm applications (and for their test masts) – as much as local councils themselves.   .

5.          It is generally agreed that in counties such as Lincolnshire, notwithstanding the fact that county and local councils are not statutory consultees on such matters, often these applications have local ramifications beyond local authority boundaries and across wide areas.  Lincolnshire County Council consider there to be significant merit in framing a joined-up approach regarding the impact of such wind-farm and test mast developments  - with local councils in their areas.  The following factors should be considered by local councils engaging directly with principal authorities on matters germaine to wind farm and related test mast applications in their areas;

·        impact on landscape;

·        impact on historic and natural environment;

·        impact on amenity, noise, flicker; and

·        Impact upon airfields.

6.   The National Energy Strategy sets out a target of 20% of energy to be produced by renewable sources by 2020. The Regional Plan embodies the national drive towards greater renewable energy generation and Lincolnshire is identified as an area with capacity to take significant wind farm development.  Local councils in areas also significantly affected by the National Energy Strategy should also consider whether they think 20% as a target for local energy to be produced by renewable sources by 2020 in their area – is feasible (or not).        

7.          Based on the Lincolnshire approach, local councils engaging with principal authorities in their areas regarding wind-farms and applications for related test masts should have regard to the below factors;

• Produce Landscape Character Assessments in line with the adopted principle set out by Natural England and English Heritage;

• Define highly sensitive landscapes and landscapes with low visual carrying capacity that would not be suitable for wind farm development;

• Set consistent guidance, such as that outlined in Section 18 to protect the visual amenity of settlements;

• Assess the visual and inter-visibility impact of existing wind farms and their accumulative impact to establish the extent of separation needed to prevent over dominance. In assessing impact, the visual aspects of off-shore wind farms also needs to be taken into consideration, especially in relationship to views towards the coast;

• Define zones of theoretical visibility and visual influence zones where wind turbine/farms would have a significant visual impact, this to protect areas of landscape significance, important views, historic landscapes, locally prominent buildings or Scheduled Ancient Monuments;

• Wind turbines/farms should be situated sufficient distance away from dwellings so as not to cause any significant adverse impact on the amenity of the residents. The accepted standard is 700 metres as a minimum;

• To prevent flicker problems, wind farms/turbines should be set back from A and B roads and away from residential areas. The exact distance needs to be assessed on a road and site by site basis;

• In relation to internationally important biodiversity sites a notional separating distance of 2km and 400m for nationally important sites are advocated although this may vary on local assessment, this would be precautionary as such sites have landscape importance, as well as attracting migratory birds.;

• Aviation and defence interests must be protected from adverse developments, the extent of areas to be protected needs to be assessed in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence and the Civil Aviation Authority; and

• On an individual basis each scheme also needs to be assessed against the impact upon the historic and natural environment, and non-commercial radio/television communications, radar installations, access and the impact of ancillary developments.

8.    If local councils have detailed planning queries on these matters, they should contact their County Association of Local Councils or the National Association of Local Councils if they are member councils.  The advice contained in this note is intended to be practical and relevant, especially as the number of such planning applications is likely to keep growing nationally in the light of the Government’s targets.